Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri makes remarkable claim that Carabao Cup is HARDER than Champions League

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri makes remarkable claim that Carabao Cup is HARDER than Champions League
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri claims the strength of the Premier League means the Carabao Cup is HARDER than the Champions League.The Blues are fighting to qualify for Europe’s premier cup competition, and they can take a huge step forward with a defeat of Burnley this evening.1

Sarri is hoping to lead Chelsea back into the Champions League

Victory would move Chelsea into third place, three points clear of Arsenal and two ahead of Tottenham, though both London sides would have a game in hand over the Stamford Bridge outfit.Chelsea can also qualify for the Champions League by winning this season’s Europa League, a competition in which they have reached the semi-final stage.Asked if it would be easier to reach the Champions League via the Europa League or the Premier League, Sarri said: “The Premier League is really very difficult, for getting in the final of the League Cup we had to play against Liverpool, against Tottenham, [and] the final against Manchester City. “It was easier to get to the final of the Champions League.”Manchester United are also battling to finish in the top four, though Sunday’s defeat by Everton leaves them two points behind Chelsea and their top four hopes hanging by a thread.United also saw themselves knocked out the Champions League last week, as did their local rivals Manchester City.Tottenham and Liverpool remain in contention for Ol’ Big Ears, and could even meet in the final if they progress past Ajax and Barcelona respectively.

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It would be quite remarkable for an all-English final, but that didn’t stop Sarri questioning the importance placed on the Champions League.“I think many give to the Champions League too much importance,” he added.“Of course it is the most important competition for clubs but it is a competition with straight elimination so sometimes you need a post in [the ball to go in off the post] or a post out [the ball to bounce off the post and away] to qualify or to be eliminated.“Its clear its the most important competition for clubs in Europe, and as a consequence in the world, but its a competition in which you need to be lucky.”

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Dutch FA Gives Ajax a Break. Tottenham is also at a disadvantage due to the fact that it played West Ham United on Saturday, while the Eredivisie - the top Dutch league - saw all of its matches postponed this weekend in order to help Ajax be as rested as possible for their Champions League clash.

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