SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 3 hrs 21 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CL
Europa League | Semi-Finals
May 9, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
EF

1-1

Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties
FT(HT: 1-0)
Jovic (49')

Maurizio Sarri insists Chelsea "deserve" to beat Arsenal in Europa League final

:Headline: Maurizio Sarri insists Chelsea 'deserve' to beat Arsenal in Europa League final: ID:358752: from db_amp
The side beat Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.

Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea "deserve" to win the Europa League at the conclusion of what has threatened to be such a difficult season.

The pressure is easing on their manager after they secured a top-four finish in the Premier League just days before Thursday's semi-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt ensured their passage to the Europa League final against Arsenal.

With Chelsea and their German opponents again level at 1-1 at the end of extra-time, they required penalties to progress to the showpiece in Baku and eventually won 4-3 after Cesar Azpilicueta's earlier miss left them at risk of defeat.

Chelsea players celebrate winning the penalty shoot out (Tim Goode/PA)

Sarri's team could finish the season back in the Champions League and with a major trophy having lost in the League Cup final to Manchester City and after their unconvincing performances regularly suggested his job was at risk.

The decisive penalty at Stamford Bridge was also scored by Eden Hazard, whose appearance there could yet prove his last as a Chelsea player, and the 60-year-old Sarri said: "We played the first final against Manchester City and lost. So now we want to win. Our group deserves to win.

"We were in trouble three months ago and, here in England, if you're in trouble the level of opponents is very high and it's not easy to overcome difficulties. We were able to do it. So now we deserve to win a trophy.

"Getting to the final of the League Cup, we had to play against Liverpool, against Tottenham, the finalists of the Champions League, then we played against the best team in Europe in the final, Manchester City. At this moment, the Premier League is the best championship in the world.

"There is no preparation for penalties because you can kick very well in the training ground and then the pressure is different. You need a great personality. Great character. It's really useless to try penalties.

"Now we need to rest. Then we have 10 days to prepare the final. We have to recover energy because we are really very tired."

Chelsea were already below full-strength when they lost Andreas Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to injuries, but after insisting neither was serious, Sarri revealed "superstition" meant he resisted speaking to his players at the end of extra-time.

"I don't want to enter on the pitch; a superstition," he laughed. "I don't need to talk to them. I spoke with (assistant manager Gianfranco) Zola so they knew very well what to say.

"I (also) didn't want to suffer (by watching the last two penalties)."

Chelsea's Eden Hazard scored the winning penalty (Mike Egerton/PA)

The 28-year-old Hazard was asked if he had played his last match at Stamford Bridge, and he told BT Sport: "I am only thinking to win something for this club. If it's my last game I will try to do everything. If it's not, we'll see. In my mind I don't know yet."

Frankfurt manager Adi Hutter, 49, added: "I am very proud. The Chelsea players were anxious, shouting at each other and the Chelsea fans were nervous.

"The disappointment is very big, the heads are hanging low."

amp_article__358752 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-10 06:31:04:
html db last update - 2021-01-31 15:43:34 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Maurizio Sarri

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
Read more about Maurizio Sarri Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .