Maurizio Sarri gives latest Chelsea FC update on N’Golo Kante ahead of Frankfurt clash
Chelsea FC manager Maurizio Sarri gives an update on the fitness of N'Golo Kante after Sunday's 3-0 victory over Watford
Maurizio Sarri has ruled N’Golo Kante out of Chelsea FC’s Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.
The France international was forced off in the tenth minute of Chelsea FC’s 3-0 victory over Watford in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Kante played 180 minutes in Chelsea FC’s 1-1 stalemates with Manchester United and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Premier League and the Europa League in recent days.
The World Cup winner succumbed to a suspected hamstring problem to cast doubt on whether Kante will be able to feature in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.
Speaking at his post-match media conference at Stamford Bridge following Sunday’s 3-0 win over Watford, Sarri ruled Kante out of contention to feature against Eintracht Frankfurt.
“The problem is with his hamstring,” Sarri said. “But I think I made a mistake, because probably today he had to rest.
“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 I made a mistake.
“I think it’s very difficult to recover him for the next two matches. We want to play the final, so he’s lucky, and we have to try to recover him for the final in case.”
Chelsea FC secured a top-four finish on Sunday thanks to their 3-0 victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain sealed a comfortable win over their London rivals.
The Blues can still finish Sarri’s first season in charge with some silverware if Chelsea FC win the Europa League.
The west London side will face either Arsenal or Valencia in the final if the Blues can get the job done against Frankfurt in the second leg.
