Chelsea could be without N’Golo Kante in the Europa League match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday after the France international picked up what looked like a hamstring injury in the win over Watford.
On Sunday, the Blues qualified for the Champions League, which puts some gloss on their season, but they had one big regret in the process. Kante, a key player in Sarri’s side, hobbled off after only 10 minutes of the game, and there was the feeling the Blues would struggle to secure the victory without their outstanding midfielder.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek came in for him and quickly immersed himself in the game, scoring the first goal of the match. Kante’s injury means he is likely to miss the clash against Frankfurt, and possibly the final Premier League game of the season at his former club Leicester City.
Sarri admits he made a mistake in starting the combative midfielder.
“I don’t know. The problem is with his hamstring. But I think that I made a mistake because, probably, today he needed to rest,” he said in a press conference. “Sometimes it’s very difficult to put on the bench a player so important like Hazard, like Kante, but you have to do it. Otherwise you risk, and I have to say that I made a mistake.
“I don’t know [the injury’s severity]. We have to wait until tomorrow morning, I think, but I think it’s very difficult for him to recover for the next two matches.”
Maurizio Sarri, Goal
Chelsea need to find a win or secure a goalless draw to make the final in the Europa League.
