Tuesday 7 May 2019 13:02, UK
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is still hopeful of being fit for the Europa League final, should Chelsea reach it, and has insisted manager Maurizio Sarri is not to blame for his hamstring injury.
The France international went off injured just 10 minutes into Chelsea's 3-0 win over Watford on Sunday, and Sarri admitted afterwards it was a mistake starting him just three days after the Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Speaking to Goal, Kante addressed Sarri's claim that he was at fault: "No. I was just fine and it just happened. I'm ok, I just have pain through my hamstring and I just need a bit of time to check what it is.
"That is one possibility [that I will be out until the final], but first, we need to check and take the time to check everything to see how long it will take."
Chelsea secured Champions League football next season with the win against Watford but Kante is now targeting a third-placed finish.
"As we know we have two targets and, after a difficult time in the league, we have the opportunity to finish well and take the third position.
"It will be an important game against Leicester and we still have the second leg of the Europa League.
"We cannot say that [we have momentum] because at too many times this season, we are winning and losing, winning and losing. [The fans] are behind us, they want the same result as we want and they are just trying to show what they want from us [by booing].
"At the end, we all want a good season and to finish well. So we hope we can get what we want on Thursday and go to the final. We want to qualify for the Champions League and get a trophy. It would be a great finish.
"Why not? It can make this season be cheerful. But step by step, the first step is to get to the final."
