Maurizio Sarri has explained his Chelsea team selection for the Premier League clash at Cardiff City.
Sarri shocked fans in several ways ahead of the Cardiff match by dropping stars Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante to the bench, while Callum Hudson-Odoi failed to start again.
The Italian manager insisted the international commitments of Hazard and Kante have left them needing a rest.
“At the moment Kante has played 50 matches this season and Hazard 47. They played with their international teams,” Sarri told Sky Sports. “Hazard for 187 minutes and Kante for 175 minutes and so I think it’s time to rest.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea supporters were equally surprised by the decision from Sarri to not start Hudson-Odoi considering Hazard’s omission.
Pedro and Willian were chosen above the 18-year-old from a winger standpoint, with Hudson-Odoi’s starring role for England in the 5-1 win over Montenegro increasing the demands from fans and pundits for him to make his first Chelsea start in the Premier League.
Chelsea starting team confirmed: Hazard, Hudson-Odoi & Kante all benched at Cardiff
“Callum is always in my mind when I have to name the starting eleven but today I wanted to put him in the condition to change the starting eleven in the next match on Wednesday,” Sarri added on Hudson-Odoi.
“Considering training after the international break I thought it was right to start Pedro and Willian.”
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