POINTING TO THE PROBLEM
MAURIZIO SARRI last night admitted Chelsea need new players this summer to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City – on the day their appeal against a two-window transfer ban was thrown out by
FIFA.
The Blues, who tonight face Eintracht Frankfurt, immediately announced they “categorically refuted” FIFA’s findings, and will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration.
Sarri’s team are 24 points behind leaders Manchester City, and
Sarri admitted they will need to bring in top-class players to bridge the gap, especially if Eden Hazard (below, in training yesterday with Gonzalo Higuain) leaves. The Italian, whose team are favourites to go through to the final in Baku on May 29, after drawing 1-1 in Frankfurt last week, said: “We have to buy one or two players. Otherwise, it’s very difficult to improve.
“We are a very good team, and so need only one or two. No more. But it is very difficult to cover the gap at the moment. We need to work, and probably we’d need something from the market.” Chelsea were originally handed the ban in February after being found guilty of breaching the rules in 29 cases of signing under-18 players.
Yesterday, FIFA upheld the ban, with the exception of signing under-16 players. The club were also fined £460,000.
Chelsea have 41 players out on loan.
And Ruben Loftus-Cheek, one of the few academy graduates to make it through to the first team in the Roman Abramovich era, admitted if the Blues are forced to turn to youngsters next season, the fans would love it.
He said: “When the young players come on to the pitch at Stamford Bridge, they always get a fantastic reception.”