Sarri: It’s EASIER to reach Champions League final than EFL Cup final

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri makes incredible claim that it’s EASIER to reach the Champions League final than EFL Cup final

  • Chelsea are battling on two fronts to qualify for next season’s Champions League
  • But Maurizio Sarri insists ‘people give the (competition) too much importance’
  • Chelsea boss believes the knockout format means teams need luck to do well
  • ‘The ball goes in off a post or out and you qualify or are eliminated,’ Sarri said 

Maurizio Sarri has made the sensational claim that it’s harder for teams to reach the final of the League Cup than the Champions League.

Chelsea are currently locked in a battle for the top four alongside Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham , with Monday’s clash against Burnley offering the Blues the chance to move up to third.

Victory would take Sarri’s side into pole position to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League with only a few weeks of the season remaining.

Maurizio Sarri claims it’s harder to reach the final of the EFL Cup than the Champions League

Chelsea, who were beaten by Manchester City in the EFL Cup earlier final this season, can still win silverware with victory in the Europa League.

They face Frankfurt in the last four and know going all the way would also guarantee them a spot in next season’s Champions League. But Sarri has questioned whether going far in the Europe’s elite competition is a true measure of success. 

‘People give the Champions League too much importance. Of course it is the most important competition for clubs, but now it is one with straight elimination. The ball goes in off a post or out and you qualify or are eliminated.

‘You need to play very well, but you need to be lucky in that competition. It’s clear it’s the most important competition for clubs in the world – but it’s a competition where you need to be lucky.’

Chelsea were beaten in the final of the EFL Cup earlier this season by Manchester City

Chelsea were beaten in the final of the EFL Cup earlier this season by Manchester City

He added: ‘The Premier League is very difficult. To get to the final of the League Cup we had to play Liverpool, Tottenham, and then Manchester City in the final. 

‘It is easier to get to the final of the Champions League.’ 

Chelsea welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge on Monday night, knowing victory would see them leapfrog Tottenham and Arsenal into third.

Sarri’s side face a busy run between now and the end of the season as they continue to battle on two fronts. 

But the Chelsea boss is determined to try and secure success both at home and Europe.

Chelsea and Burnley lock horns in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Monday

Chelsea and Burnley lock horns in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Monday 

‘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 is a very important competition in itself, not just because of going in the Champions League.

‘We have to try to get into the top four. It’s not easy because we only have four matches left.

‘The last four five or five matches will be difficult for every team involved. We might see some very strange results in the last part of the season. But we are going to fight to the end.’

 

 



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