Still ‘difficult’ to find a place for Loftus-Cheek, says Sarri

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Chelsea remain unbeaten under Maurizio Sarri. [Picture: Steve Paston/PA Wire][themify_hr color="dark-gray"]
Maurizio Sarri insisted it was still “very difficult” to find a place in the Chelsea side for Ruben Loftus-Cheek after the midfielder scored a hat-trick against BATE Borisov.

The England international stole the show at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea won 3-1 to make it three Europa League victories from their three group games.

Having been overlooked by boss Sarri this season, Loftus-Cheek took his chance to impress in emphatic fashion.

Sarri praised him but the Italian, who also has the likes of Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Cesc Fabregas and Mateo Kovacic at his disposal, pointed out that he has a wealth of midfield options.

Loftus-Cheek scored twice in the first eight minutes. [Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire]

“At the beginning of the season he was a very good player, now he is a good player more suitable to my way of football I think,” Sarri said.

But he added: “We have a tactical problem with the midfielders because for two positions we have four midfielders and three of them have the same characteristics.

“They are offensive midfielders, only one has other characteristics – (N’Golo) Kante is a defensive midfielder.

“So it is very difficult to put in the starting XI two midfielders with the same characteristics.”

Loftus-Cheek’s hat-trick was the first by a Chelsea player in Europe since Didier Drogba’s against Levski Sofia in 2006 – and the first by an Englishman since Harry Kane for Tottenham against Asteras Tripolis four years ago.

Loftus-Cheek said: “Any player will tell you it’s nice to score a hat-trick. It feels good. Hopefully there’ll be many more to come.”




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