TRANSFER BAN CRISIS AT BLUES
against Manchester City and in the Premier League and League Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham.
Since the start of the 2012-13 season, no player has been involved in more League Cup goals for a Premier League side than Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (14 - 8 goals, 6 assists).
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has scored more goals than any other player in this season’s League Cup (5) – but all five have come against League One sides (one v Oxford, four v Burton). Jesus has never scored a League Cup goal against Premier League opposition (5 games, 0 goals).
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri could become the second Italian to win the League Cup, after Gianluca Vialli who won the trophy with the Blues in 1998.
Sergio Aguero has scored 13 goals in 16 appearances in all competitions against Chelsea for Manchester City, only scoring more often against Newcastle United for City (15). PEP GUARDIOLA claims he is shocked by the managerial instability at Chelsea. Maurizio Sarri faces the sack at Stamford Bridge just seven months after taking over. And Guardiola contrasted Sarri’s predicament with his situation during a barren first season at the Etihad. “The situations are a little bit different,” said the City boss, whose side beat Chelsea 6-0 earlier this month (above). “In my first year, the club never doubted me.
“It was never in the media that I’d be sacked if they lost this game or another game. It never happened. “I was surprised that when Antonio Conte won the title, and they then lost one or two games at the beginning of the next season, people started to say he was going to be sacked.
“I said, ‘Wow. But two or three months ago, they won the Premier League’.”
Guardiola – who can lift his third major trophy in just two seasons tomorrow – claims taking charge of Chelsea was never an option for him and believes the stability at the Etihad has given him the platform to succeed.
“I never was a potential option for Chelsea,” he added. “I was in Barcelona and Bayern, then I came here with Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain.
“They trust me and I trust them. In the first season, when it was difficult, I said we needed time and they supported me.” ■ FROM BACK PAGE investment as they have become also-rans in the title race.
Outgoings are not covered by the ban so they face the prospect of losing Belgium star Eden Hazard this summer.
Real Madrid are keen on the Stamford Bridge playmaker (above), who wants to quit with just one year left on his deal.
Mirror Sport can also reveal that Callum Hudson-Odoi is still set for Bayern Munich this summer as the German club met with his representatives this week while in England for their Champions League game at Liverpool.
That leaves Chelsea in potential meltdown with boss Maurizio Sarri on the brink of the sack.
He could be axed if they lose the League Cup Final tomorrow, with Gianfranco Zola or England coach Steve Holland lined up as potential caretakers.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is the fans’ favourite to take charge as he might embrace the academy players at the club, necessary now they cannot sign established stars. Chelsea were fully braced for the FIFA clampdown and signed Christian Pulisic in January from Borussia Dortmund even though they had to loan him back until the summer, while Gonzalo Higuain is on an 18-month loan deal.
The Chelsea case centres on non-EU players being signed before they are 18 and also whether they were transported across borders as is alleged with Traore – and if he was registered as a player.
The FA are also facing a £400,000 fine, but plan to appeal on the basis of a lack of clarity on the rules – with registration laws for friendly or trial matches open to interpretation.
Manchester City also face the threat of a FIFA ban as the world governing body investigates fresh allegations of Financial Fair Play breaches, with it reported in November that eight deals for under-18 players were being scrutinised.