Cesc sits out derby with knee injury

LONDON: Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas will miss today’s Premier League reunion with former club Arsenal due to a leg injury, manager Maurizio Sarri said.

The Spaniard took a knock to his leg near his knee and is expected to resume training with the squad next week.

“Fabregas is out for this match. I hope he’ll be able to feature next week. I’m not sure,” Sarri said. “It’s nothing serious but he has a very unusual injury. He has pain near the knee, not in the knee.”

Sarri also said he was confident midfielder Eden Hazard would stay at the club this season. British and Spanish media reports have linked the Belgium international with a switch to Real Madrid, following in the footsteps of Thibaut Courtois.

The move could still go through as the transfer window for European leagues is open until August 31.

However, Sarri assured Chelsea supporters his talisman would stay.

“I’ve spoken with him often but he has never said to me anything about this so I am sure Eden will be with us for this season,” Sarri said.

Ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge, the Italian backed his counterpart Unai Emery to make Arsenal a force to be reckoned with. The Spaniard suffered a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in his first League match since succeeding Arsene Wenger.

“He won the Europa League three times, he won in France with Paris St Germain. Arsenal will be competitive. They will be able to fight for a place in the Champions League,” Sarri said.

Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will miss up to three months of action but will not need surgery after scans revealed the full extent of his knee injury, the club said.

De Bruyne, who came on as a substitute in City’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal in their first league match of the season last weekend, suffered the injury in training this week.

“Manchester City can confirm Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a lateral collateral ligament lesion in his right knee,” the club said in a statement.

“No surgery is required and the midfielder is expected to be out for around three months.”

De Bruyne scored eight goals and provided 16 assists as City won the league title with a record-breaking 100 points last season.

The 27- year- old Belgium international helped his country progress to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia.

City take on Huddersfield Town tomorrow. – Reuters