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Chelsea will SACK Maurizio Sarri because of one player - Emile Heskey
MAURIZIO SARRI will not be the Chelsea head coach next season.
Chelsea: Sarri blames ‘mental block’ for Everton loss
That is the opinion of former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey.
Chelsea are currently sixth in the Premier League table with eight games of the season remaining.
Defeat to Everton on Sunday means their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term are in serious doubt.
However, they are still in the Europa League, where they will face Slavia Prague in the quarter-final in April.
You need players like that stepping up to the plate
Heskey believes Sarri could still get the boot if Chelsea win the Europa League.
He says star man Eden Hazard has not played at his best this season, which ultimately has led to Sarri struggling in his first campaign in England.
“I’d be very surprised if he’s there next season,” Heskey said on Sky Sports.
“It’s been a difficult season for him.
“You’ve got talisman like Hazard, a couple of seasons ago we were touting him as the best in the Premier League, probably the best in Europe.
“You need players like that stepping up to the plate.
“I think he still could go [even if Chelsea win the Europa League].
“I think they’re probably looking at the future now and thinking they’re quite far behind a lot of the teams that they are hoping to be in the mix with in the top four and winning the league.”
Chelsea: Blues are 'lacking ideas' following defeat says pundit
Hazard has scored 13 goals and contributed 11 assists in the Premier League so far this season.
The Belgian has been heavily linked with a summer move to Real Madrid.
His contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of next season.
Chelsea would not be able to sign a replacement for Hazard after being banned from buying players for the next two windows.