Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has explained the reason behind his decision to drop star player Eden Hazard from his team for the crucial Europa League semifinal clash with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.
The biggest news on Thursday night was the omission of Hazard from the Chelsea starting XI for the Frankfurt game.
When asked about his decision to drop Hazard from his starting XI during his post-match press conference, Sarri told reporters that Eden Hazard is not a robot and that the Belgian international can’t play 75 matches in a season.
According to him, Eden Hazard was rested for the first leg game with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Without Hazard, Chelsea didn’t have much problems as they played out a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Belgian international came on as a second half substitute when the two goals had been scored in the first half of that encounter.
Eden Hazard came on as a 61st minute substitute for Brazilian international player Willian.
Chelsea are slight favourites to book a spot in the 2019 Europa League final ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt with the away goal scored by Pedro Rodriguez on the stroke of the halftime interval.
The hosts had taken a 23rd-minute lead through Luka Jovic who has now scored 26 goals this season.
