Sports

July 24, 2018

Sarri keen to speak with Hazard, Courtois, Willian

Chelsea vs Everton

Maurizio Sarri

New Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says he intends to speak to any players wanting to leave the club by the end of July.

Sarri

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, forward Willian and playmaker Eden Hazard are all reportedly considering their futures at Stamford Bridge next season.

However, speaking after watching Chelsea beat Perth Glory 1-0 in his first game in charge of the club, Sarri confirmed he was planning face-to-face discussions with the trio when they report for pre-season training.

Belgium internatio-nals Hazard and Courtois have both been afforded a three-week holiday following their World Cup exploits and are not scheduled to return to Cobham until August 5 or 6.

“I like to talk to a person face to face. I do not like to talk to a person by telephone,” said Sarri in his post-match press conference.

“I do not know, it depends on the club (whether they stay). It is clear that for me, it is a pleasure to have Courtois, to have Willian, to have Hazard.

“But it does not depend on me, so we have to wait, I am confident.”

When pushed as to when exactly he may be sitting down with the players in question, the Italian said: “Face to face, at the end of the month because they will arrive at Cobham (Chelsea’s training ground) at the end of the month.”