LONDON: Maurizio Sarri said Chelsea’s lengthening injury list is causing concern ahead of his side’s crowded January schedule.
Striker Olivier Giroud became the Blues’ latest casualty, hobbling out of the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday and leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.
Chelsea had gone into the game without five players, including Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Danny Drinkwater who were all injured in training the previous day.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pedro, the only one of the six to have started more than half of Chelsea’s league games this season, were already sidelined. With Wednesday’s meeting with Southampton the start of a run of seven games in January, Sarri was left hoping Giroud’s injury was not as bad as first feared.
“The problem is his ankle,” said the Chelsea head coach when asked about the France international’s injury.
“I don’t know the severity. We have to wait for tomorrow. I think that, later in the evening, I will see the doctor for the first results, but I think the real result will only be known tomorrow.
“In the last few days we were a bit unlucky. Yesterday in 10 minutes we had three injuries — Fabregas, Loftus and Drinkwater — then Giroud today, and we were already without Pedro and Odoi. We are in trouble because, in January, we have to play every three days.”
Sarri added: “Fabregas is a neck problem. The injury was in the last five minutes of training, so I’m not sure whether he has to rest for two or 10 days.”
Chelsea moved five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal thanks to N’Golo Kante’s 51st-minute goal.
Sarri said Kante’s well-timed run and composed finish demonstrated how the midfielder was growing accustomed to the more attacking role he has been asked to fill this season.
“He is improving, especially in his movement without the ball,” the Italian explained. “Today his movement was really very good and done with the right timing.
“It’s very important for us when we have to play against opponents very low, where the strikers and wingers find it hard to find space.
“It’s about the movement of the midfielders. We have to work on Loftus and Ross Barkley on this. Loftus, especially, is a very great player with the ball, but he can improve a lot in his movement without the ball.”
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson confirmed his interest in Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke after Steve Parish, the south London club’s chairman, revealed the Eagles’ desire to sign the 21-year-old on loan.
“What would he do? Provide an attacking threat. He’s a proven goalscorer through all the age groups at Chelsea and England. If he comes here, it’ll be up to him to show he can do that in Premier League football.”
The former England boss added: “He’s someone with the profile we’re looking for, and the ability we are looking for. We know him better from the England games, and the performances with England.
Maurizio Sarri bemoans injury woes as Chelsea labor to win over Crystal Palace
Maurizio Sarri bemoans injury woes as Chelsea labor to win over Crystal Palace
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
