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
England comeback win against New Zealand gives Pakistan last shot at T20 World Cup semifinals
- Pakistan have to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase down the co-host in 13.1 overs
- England have already qualified but completed Super Eights three-for-three unbeaten
COLOMBO: New Zealand failed to clinch a Twenty20 World Cup semifinals place when it lost to England by four wickets on Friday, leaving Pakistan a last chance to qualify.
New Zealand looked set to join England in the semifinals when it reduced England to 117-6 in the 17th over in pursuit of 160. But big hits by Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed got England over the finish line with three balls remaining in a thriller.
“Would have made our lives easier if we won,” New Zealand captain Mitch Santner said. “We played a pretty good game. Credit to England. Jacks and Rehan with the finishing touches, it was a good bit of batting.”
The odds still favor New Zealand going through from the Super Eights but Pakistan has a last-ditch chance on Saturday against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Pakistan has to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase down the tournament co-host in 13.1 overs.
England had already qualified but completed the Super Eights three-for-three unbeaten.
That record was in jeopardy for much of the chase.
Phil Salt was out in the first over and fellow opener Jos Buttler for a two-ball duck in the second over. Buttler has only 62 runs in seven matches and his 10th career duck set the all-time record for England in T20s.
“He’s played 150 games for England,” captain Harry Brook said of Buttler, “and people need to take a little step back. He’s probably the best white-ball player to play the game. He’s in a rut but it’s exciting to know what he could produce in the next few games.”
Brook and Jacob Bethel were gone inside nine overs then Tom Banton and Sam Curran struggled to share 42 runs in 35 balls. England was left needing 43 runs off 19 deliveries with four wickets on a used pitch that was turning.
Ahmed replaced Jamie Overton because of the pitch and took 2-28, and he made his bat also count.
He sent the second ball he faced over the long-on fence as he and Jacks turned the game with 22 runs in the 18th over bowled by Glenn Phillips. They plundered 16 runs from the 19th bowled by Santner and cruised home.
Jacks was unbeaten on 32 including a six and four boundaries. Ahmed faced seven deliveries for 19 which included two sixes and a boundary.
“Having gone out on a knife edge I’m over the moon,” Jacks said after his fourth player of the match award in the tournament. “Rehan played a brilliant innings. Everyone struggled to get going on that pitch and the six he hit second ball got them rattled and I fed off him.
“Feel confident right now, calm in the middle. That can be vital. We’re going in the right direction, three wins in the Super Eight, we’re very happy.”
Santner chose to bat first, as both teams wanted, and his team made 159-7.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen opened with 64 in seven overs but they lost wickets frequently from then on. Phillips top-scored with 39. New Zealand scored only 24 runs in the last three overs.
Spinners Jacks, Adil Rashid and Ahmed took two wickets each.
