MX23RW : Friday, November 8 20:55:09| >> :120:10711:10711:
[monks data]
Attendance: 40,650
Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 37
May 5, 2019 at 2pm UK
 
Watford logo

3-0

Loftus-Cheek (48'), Luiz (51'), Higuain (75')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Sarri confirms Kante unlikely to feature in next two games

Sarri confirms Kante unlikely to feature in next two games
© Reuters
The side are due to face Leicester and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Maurizio Sarri fears N'Golo Kante's hamstring injury will keep him out of Chelsea's coming fixtures with Eintracht Frankfurt and Leicester.

The influential midfielder was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek early in the first half of Sunday's 3-0 victory over Watford, and he could be absent as they pursue progress to the Europa League final and third place in the Premier League.

Defeating Watford, coupled with Arsenal being held by Brighton later on Sunday, has already ensured that they will finish in the top four, but the much-maligned Sarri is targeting the type of successful conclusion to their season that had long appeared beyond their reach.

A wider concern surrounding the 28-year-old Kante's potential absence is that despite victory Chelsea long appeared tired and lacked intensity before taking the lead early in the second half, and discussing Kante's condition, Sarri said: "The problem is with his hamstring.

"But I made a mistake because, probably, he had to rest. Sometimes it's very difficult to put on the bench a player so important like (Eden) Hazard, like Kante, but you have to do it.

"We have to wait until the morning (to determine the severity of the injury), but it's very difficult to recover him for the next two matches. We have to try and recover him for the (potential Europa League) final."

Watford manager Javi Gracia recognised that his team may have been distracted by the prospect of their FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month, and he explained: "We have to play the final. It's normal for it to be on our minds, but we were focused on this game (against Chelsea).

"We have to finish the league next week, and then have an important final. If your behaviour always is defending badly at corners and free-kicks, I'd be worried. But it's not like that. I'd prefer to be optimistic."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Declan Warrington, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '9e11eb9d-e596-49f3-88e6-c8f2427e7b57');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Kante a doubt for Premier League finale and Europa League tie \u2013 Sarri'});

ID:358390: cacheID:358390:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5631:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Curious Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri on April 18, 2019
Read Next:
Maurizio Sarri: 'Chelsea were lucky to beat Watford'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!