Maurizio
Sarri has admitted Chelsea must not lose against Manchester United on
Sunday, a match the head coach says is "more than important".
The Blues travel to Old Trafford for a key game in the race for a place in
the top four of the Premier League, live on Sky Sports.
With three games to play, Chelsea are fourth, one point above Arsenal and
three ahead of United, and Sarri said: "The match is clear; it is probably
more than important for our target.
"We will try to win, of course, but we need not to lose. It's a very
difficult match for both, I think. We have to play against opponents with a
very high level of motivation after the Manchester derby.
"But we have to try. We have two very important targets at the end of our
season. The first is the top four and the second is to get to the final of
the Europa League.
"For the first target, this match is more than important for us and for our
opponents."
While Sarri believes Chelsea cannot lose to United, he may have to try to
guide his side to a result without influential midfielder N'Golo Kante, who
was taken off at half-time in the game against Burnley.
The Italian will also be without Callum Hudson-Odoi after the winger
ruptured his Achilles in the same game, and he says the 18-year-old could be
sidelined for some time.
Sarri said: "The operation of Callum went the right way. I think he will be
back here in one or two days. Of course he needs time now, but Callum is a
very strong young man - physically and mentally. I am sure he will be able
to return better than before.
"It depends [but] for sure, three months. Then we have to see the condition,
because you can be able to play but we need a player at the top. The
technical period is three months, no less."
Sarri also backed Eden Hazard after the Belgian was left out of the PFA Team
of the Year, despite scoring or assisting 29 goals in the league this season
- more than any other player.
He said: "I think that Eden deserved to be in the top 11 of the Premier
League. But I think also at the moment the table is clear; there is City,
there is Liverpool, and then the other teams.
"So I think the vote was influenced by the table."
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