Malmo tie can brighten Sarri’s bleak future

– The Europa League might not be top of Chelsea’s priorities this season, but today’s last-32, first leg away to Malmo in Sweden takes on extra importance for Maurizio Sarri’s side.

The Italian’s days at Stamford Bridge could be numbered after last Sunday’s humiliating 6-0 defeat at Manchester City.

But Sarri (right) is still there as the London club continue a gruelling run of fixtures – the two legs of the tie against Malmo come either side of the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United. Another meeting with City in the League Cup final follows.

Paris

“It’s difficult to accept such a heavy defeat, but we have a lot of matches coming up to lift our heads and give us hope,” French midfielder N’Golo Kanté told Chelseafc.com after Sunday’s game.

Chelsea breezed through their group, despite Sarri regularly leaving out leading players and he is likely to rotate again in Sweden.

With this being the close season in Sweden, Malmo – coached by former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler – have not played a competitive game since the end of the group stage in December.

For Chelsea and their London rivals Arsenal, the resurgence of Manchester United in recent weeks increases the need to keep going in the Europa League.

A victory in the final in Baku in May could still be their best hope of making it to next season’s Champions League.

Arsenal are in Belarus to play BATE, another club who have not played competitive football since the group stage ended.

A club who have won the last 13 national titles, but lost home and away to Chelsea in the group phase, should not be a match for the Premier League side.

The most attractive ties of the round lie elsewhere, with Celtic facing a stiff test against Valencia in Glasgow.

Valencia failed to make it beyond the group stage in the Champions League but have lost just once in nine in La Liga and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says patience will be key.

“That’s the understanding of the game. You’re playing against good teams,” he told the club’s official website.

Other standout ties include Sevilla – Europa League winners three years running from 2014 to 2016 – against Lazio, Rennes against Betis and Galatasaray up against Benfica. –