Soccer-Chelsea ready to take top-four fight down to the wire: Sarri

Chelsea’s Willian, Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek celebrate after Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier scored an own goal and Chelsea’s second during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, at Stamford Bridge, in London, Britain, at February 27, 2019. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Bengaluru: Chelsea will fight until the last minute of every match to secure a top-four place in the Premier League, manager Maurizio Sarri has said.

Chelsea are sixth on 56 points, two behind fourth-placed Manchester United and one behind Arsenal, who play each other on Sunday. Sarri’s side has played a game less than their top-four rivals.

“We will be fighting for the top four until the last minute of the last match. Every match will be important in our future,” Sarri told reporters ahead of Sunday’s league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“We have two big opportunities, this match (against Wolves), and when we play the match (in hand) against Brighton.”

Chelsea has beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in the league, as well as Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League, since their shootout defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup final.

“In five matches we conceded only one goal. Now we are improving inconsistency, we are improving in defensive solidity, but we have to be careful,” Sarri added.

“In the past, we had a long period of results, and then suddenly two weeks of a disaster.”

Sunday’s match is Chelsea’s ninth in 28 days and Sarri said their participation in the Europa League had forced him to rotate his squad to avoid any potential burnout.

“At this moment it’s very difficult to arrive at every match with the same level of determination, mentally and physically at 100 per cent. But for the next match we can change six or seven players,” Sarri said.

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