Sarri saddled with Eden poser
Maurizio Sarri, the Chelsea head coach, must decide whether to risk Eden Hazard’s right ankle or reassess his Carabao Cup quarterfinal plans.
The Daily Telegraph understands Hazard had been in line to face Bournemouth in the last eight of the competition on Wednesday, as Sarri looks to win the first trophy of his managerial career.
But Hazard limped off before the end of Chelsea’s victory over Brighton on Sunday after taking a knock to his ankle, which could change Sarri’s approach.
Hazard is rated as touch and go to declare himself fit to start the Bournemouth match and Sarri will be wary of taking risks over the Belgian during such a hectic period.
Striker Olivier Giroud would be the most likely replacement for Hazard, who scored and assisted while playing in the “false nine” role against Brighton.
The fact Sarri wanted to start with Hazard shows how seriously the Italian is taking the Carabao Cup. He has already claimed Chelsea cannot win the Premier League this season, which leaves the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League as their hopes of silverware.
Chelsea, who have drawn Malmo in the last 32 of the Europa League, are waiting to find out whether Uefa will launch a full investigation into allegations of anti-Semitic chanting in their final group game against Vidi in Hungary.
And Chelsea have suffered a fresh blow in their efforts to stamp out any form of racism or discrimination after three fans were spoken to by police after officers received reports of anti-Semitic chanting on a train following the club’s game at Brighton on Sunday.
A British Transport Police statement said: “Officers received reports of antiSemitic chanting on board a train. BTP attended and three men were spoken to by officers, but at this time no one has come forward to make a complaint.”
Police will not be able to investigate unless a complaint is made and some Chelsea fans are understood to have reacted badly to the chants and attempted to stop them.
Chelsea are still investigating the actions of four supporters who have been suspended following allegations of racist abuse being shouted at Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling.