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Going in studs up is Giulio Ongaro, on email. “Sarri is doing exactly what he did with Napoli,” he says. “Claims he is not interested in the Europa League and he is thinking about the Scudetto (in that case) He got neither. When you go in not to win, it’s a bad message you send to the players.” It is a bold call by the Chelsea coach.
Team news news: so, no Eden Hazard for Chelsea, with Maurizio Sarri making five changes from the team that drew at Manchester United five days ago. Sarri wants a top-four spot in the Premier League instead of an Europa League trophy at the end of the season – he made no bones about it – but giving Hazard a breather in a semi-final seems a big, ballsy call. Rüdiger, Alonso, Kovacic, Higuaín and Hazard are replaced by Christensen, Emerson, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro and Giroud. The omission of Hazard is a boost for a Frankfurt side unbeaten in their past 11 matches in this competition. Haller and Rebić are absent for the hosts.
Written by Ben Fisher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/02/eintracht-frankfurt-v-chelsea-europa-league-semi-final-first-leg-live under the title “Eintracht Frankfurt v Chelsea: Europa League semi-final, first leg – live!”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
