LONDON (AFP) - Maurizio Sarri said Chelsea have no chance of competing with Manchester City and Liverpool next season unless their two-window transfer ban is overturned.
Chelsea were hit with the ban for breaches of the international transfer rules on minors and Fifa threw out their appeal against the decision on Wednesday.
The Blues will take their fight against the transfer embargo to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but it was the worst possible news for Sarri ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Having booked a place in next season's Champions League after securing a top four finish in the Premier League, Chelsea are bidding to win the first trophy of Sarri's reign in the Europa League.
They are favoured to reach the final after drawing 1-1 in Frankfurt in the first leg last week.
But Sarri is concerned that a potentially uplifting end to hs troubled first season would be erased if Chelsea are unable to sign the players he believes are needed to fight City and Liverpool in the Premier League.
"It's very difficult to cover the gap at the moment; we need to work, probably we need to do something from the market," said Sarri, whose third-placed team are 24 points behind leaders City.
Â
Â
Â
"So it's not easy, because the level of the top two is very, very high. As we can see in Europe so it's not easy.
"Of course, we have to work and we have to try. In my opinion we can reduce the gap.
"I think that we have to buy only one, two players, otherwise it's very difficult to improve immediately.
"I think we are a very good team, so we need only one, two players, no more."
Young talent
Fifa confirmed it has "partially upheld" Chelsea's appeal, but only in allowing the club to sign European players aged under 16.
The ban on signing over-16s remains in place, leaving Chelsea unable to make changes to Sarri's squad unless they win the CAS appeal.
With Real Madrid expected to make a move for Blues star Eden Hazard, who is out of contract next year, Sarri could be forced to sell a player he would prefer to keep rather than risk losing him for nothing when his deal expires.
That would further weaken his options, but the Italian remains intent on staying with Chelsea next term.
The former Napoli manager insists he would be able to survive without new signings at Chelsea next term, despite the obvious impact on his team's development.
Asked if he would be ready to promote youth talents to the senior squad next term, Sarri said: "I like to play with young players, so for me it's not a big problem.
"At the moment, we spoke one month ago about the pre-season, the programme of the next season.
"But we didn't speak about the market, also because at the moment we don't know if we'll be able to go into the market.
"Every month I have a report, about the players on loan, we have 45 or 46 players on loan. Of course, we need to consider who is ready.
"Two or three of those players are very interesting of course. But we need to consider the level."
Football: Bologna earn Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio thriller. 38 minutes ago. Share this content Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-Mail ROME: Bologna secured their top flight survival on Monday with a 3-3 draw at Lazio enough to keep the northerners in Serie A next
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/20/bologna-earn-miracle-serie-a-survival-in-six-goal-lazio-thriller/
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio thriller AFP May 20, 2019 AFP No Comments Rome (AFP) - Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic hailed his team for pulling off a "miracle" to secure their top flight survival with a 3-3 draw at Lazio on Monday enough to keep the northerners in Serie A next season.
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
Tigers riding high headed into 'must win' game. JSU has improved its postseason prospects with back-to-back wins, but has more work to do.
Official Detroit Tigers Website | MLB.com
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba The Argentinian striker's body was formally identified by an English coroner on Thursday, a day after it was recovered from underwater
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba
Sterling, who has 19 goals for City in all competitions this season, was also supported by England team mate Danny Rose. France midfielder Paul Pogba believes England's Raheem Sterling is sometimes treated differently by the British media because he is black and does not get the recognition he deserves for his achievements.
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has unfinished business with Chelsea The suspended England midfielder could only watch helplessly from the stand. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has unfinished business with Chelsea as the 2014 defeat to Jose Mourinho's side which sank their Premier League title bid still hurts.
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four Football 04.01.2019 / 10:29 Leroy Sane struck the winner as Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League clash on Thursday, inflicting the first loss of the season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their lead at the top to four points, Reuters reports.
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win a devastating double in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of their last-four clash on Thursday morning (May 2, Singapore
Messi torments Liverpool with 600 th Barcelona goal in 3-0 win
The Pakistan national Football team represents Pakistan association football in FIFA-authorised events and is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Pakistan. Pakistan's home ground is Punjab Stadium, Lahore. Pakistan became a member of FIFA in 1948 joining the Asian Football Confederation. Pakistan's
Khash-Erdene Batbayar - Wikipedia
Giulia Gwinn's inspired strike was the difference as one of the favorites turned in a rather flat debut. Giulia Gwinn's goal helps Germany beat China to open FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 Home
Football: Albirex Niigata could sign up to four Singaporean players in a boost for 2019 SEA Games
Latest ALBIREX NIIGATA | The Straits Times
Leicester axe Puel, target Rodgers as successor Wilfried Zaha scoring the second goal for Crystal Palace who beat Leicester 4-1 on Saturday. The Foxes dismissed manager Claude Puel after the club
Claude Puel sacked by Leicester as club target Brendan
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says Cristiano Ronaldo will be '150 per cent' fit for the Champions League final as he allays fears over ankle injury Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off with an ankle injury during Barcelona draw Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions League final in just three weeks
Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus and Portugal forward downplays
0 comments:
Post a Comment