Chelsea’s striker Gonzalo Higuain struck in the second half to secure a 3-0 win over Watford on Sunday and ensure a top-four Premier League finish and Champions League football next season.
The results lift the Blues into third spot behind Liverpool and Manchester City and their day was made all the great as Manchester United drew at relegated Huddersfield and Arsenal were held by Brighton.
With one round of fixtures remaining Chelsea, on 71 points, cannot be caught by fifth-placed Arsenal, who are on 67 points, or United, a point further back.
“We want to be in the top four at the end of the season. We want to be in the Champions League. We don’t know about Champions League, we have to wait for Arsenal but probably we have to go to our last match to try to win. We have to fight until the last minute of the last match.” Sarri said in a press conference.
“The Europa League is also a very important competition and we want to win it because we think we deserve to a trophy this season. So we have two targets.” Sarri added.
Sarri admitted that in the first half they did not play to their full potential. Former However, they managed to turn the game at the beginning of the second half with two quick-fire goals and this eventually helped them seal a comfortable 3-0 win in the end.
“In the first half, we were not able to play simply.We were playing… driving the ball… we were not able to think in a simple way. When you are not brilliant, physically, you have to move the ball, one touch or two touches. The ball is not tired. The man is tired.” Sarri said.
“And so, in the second half, we did it better, better and better, probably because something changed in our minds after the first goal.” he added.
Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea will fight until the last minute of every match to secure a top-four place in the Premier League. (Source:www.thetimes.co.uk)
Sarri’s side will play away at Leicester City on the final day of the league season next Sunday where a win would confirm a third-place finish.