Maurizio Sarri: Chelsea boss forced to pick between Premier League and Europa League

Maurizio Sarri has been forced to pick between Premier League and Europa League as the season concludes in few days time.

Chelsea did not look convincing, but they progressed to the Semifinals of the Europa League following 5-3 aggregate victory over Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. They will not face the German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four of the competition as they desire to lift the European trophy after a gap of six years.

Despite the qualification to the semi-finals, Sarri has said that the Blues will be focussing on the Premier League and Europa League. The Italian has promised that the club will do everything to finish in the top four even if they find a way to emerge to the finals.

He was asked to pick between these two competitions, and Sarri responded “At the moment we cannot choose,” he said.

“We have to try in the Premier League, we have to try in the Europa League, but we want to win the Europa League because it’s a very important competition, not for going in the Champions League.

Chelsea will play Burnley on Monday night before travelling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday. That game will be followed by a home fixture against Watford and will finish their season at King Power Stadium against Leicester City.

“So we have to try in the Premier League to get in the top four. It’s not easy for us because we have to play only four matches, but we have to try. I think in the last four, five matches it will be very difficult for every team involved in the fight for the top four, not only for us. I think we can see some very strange results in the last part of the season, we have only to fight and see at the end.” said Sarri.

“So it’s really very difficult to get in the top four in the Premier League, but in this moment of course when you arrive in the semi-final it will also be really very difficult in the Europa League at this point. You cannot expect something easy, but we have to try in both, it’s not time to choose.”

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Chelsea will take on Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Monday night followed by the season-defining clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.