HAZARD ‘TOO TIRED’ FOR GREECE TRIP

EDEN HAZARD asked to be rested for Chelsea’s Europa League clash with PAOK Salonika tonight after complaining of tiredness, Maurizio Sarri has revealed. The 27-year-old has not travelled to Greece with the squad after telling his boss he felt fatigued following his hat-trick against Cardiff on Saturday. Sarri granted him the game off, leaving Hazard at home as Chelsea begin their Europa League campaign at the hostile Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. ‘He told me that after the national team and after the match against Cardiff he was a little bit tired,’ Sarri confirmed. ‘I thought it was better to stay and have training and rest.’ David Luiz has also been rested. England’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek has travelled, though was last night offered no guarantees of game time by Sarri. The 22-year-old midfielder has featured for a total of 33 minutes for Chelsea this season. When asked if he will start tonight, Sarri said: ‘Loftus-Cheek is a good player but I don’t know if there is a spot for him. ‘It is difficult because in the first part of the season it is very important to play with the same players, to have a solid team. ‘Unfortunately, we have to play with 11 players and I have 28, so 17 will not agree with me.’ Meanwhile, Chelsea fans face a hellish commute to the ground, as Greek authorities have put strict restrictions on them. Supporters will not be allowed in if they do not arrive on a designated bus from the city centre. The journey should take 25 minutes but fans have been warned they could be on the coaches for three hours. On the hostile atmosphere, Sarri said: ‘My players are professionals so they must play in every situation.’