Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri claims ‘it is not important’ if he is in charge next season, but has started planning

Maurizio Sarri has claimed “it’s not important” if he’s manager at Chelsea next season, and admitted “the situation is difficult because you have to win something” ahead of the club’s Europa League round of 16 tie against Dynamo Kiev.

Speculation over Sarri’s future has been subdued after the club recovered from the 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City and Carabao Cup final defeat with victories over London rivals Tottenham and Fulham.

However, the Italian admitted to having started making plans for pre-season, with Chelsea scheduled to visit Japan due to a commitment with shirt sponsor Yokohama Tyres before returning for a European training camp.

“It is not a big problem,” Sarri said of the lingering questions over his future.

“The only problem is the results. I want to win for the club, not for me. I was confident in the past, I am now and I want to think only to our performances and our results, not anything else.

“It is not important next season if I will be here, for me in this moment it is only important the results. I am confident [I will be here next season] as I have to think that for me to do my job.

“The situation is difficult because at Chelsea you need to win something, but the players are not difficult to manage at all.”

Sarri also said he would take the chance to rotate his squad after a “hard week” that has left many of his players feeling jaded.

“We have no injury. Of course, we have some players tired because the last week was very hard for us. We need to consider the situation and to rest some players, I think.”

Sarri also played coy over whether Callum Hudson-Odoi would start in the fixture and claimed that too much pressure is being put on the shoulders of the 18-year-old.

Callum is always in my mind, I don’t know if tomorrow he will be on the pitch. I think you have to put less pressure on the young English player as they have to improve.

“I have not seen a player of 18 at the top, Callum the same as others needs to improve. It is very important that, and then he will be able to be at the top when he is 22 or 23. You put too much pressure on the English young players.”