Maurizio Sarri is reportedly fighting for his job on Thursday night as Chelsea line up Zinedine Zidane to take the Stamford Bridge reins.
The pressure is on the Italian after the Blues were given their worst pak in 28 years in Sunday’s 6-0 humiliation at Manchester City.
It’s claimed that the players are unhappy with Sarri’s tactics ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League last-32 first leg clash at Malmo (10 pm).
And with Monday’s FA Cup fifth-round visit of Manchester United and next Sunday’s League Cup final against City coming up, the Blues hierarchy is set to move quickly if the Blues lose on Thursday night.
However, should Sarri get back to winning ways, Chelsea may even wait for the end of the season to make a decision on the former Napoli boss’ future after three defeats in their last four Premier League games.
Still, Real transfer target Eden Hazard says he is enjoying working with Sarri. The Belgian superstar says that he and the coach share the same philosophy about football.
Hazard says: All my managers I’ve played for have given me something.
“From when I started with Claude Puel at Lille, to now with Maurizio Sarri. They all see football in different ways which is why I’m the player I am.
“They have all given me important advice. Jose Mourinho was special, but the way Sarri likes to play is more like my philosophy of football.”
Thursday night’s Europa league fixtures
Slavia Praha v Genk (7.55 pm)
Krasnodar v Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7.55 pm)
Lazio v Sevilla (7.55 pm)
Rennes v Real Betis (7.55 pm)
BATE v Arsenal (7.55 pm)
Olympiakos v Dynamo Kiev (7.55 pm)
Rapid Vienna v Inter (7.55 pm)
Galatasaray v Benfica (7.55 pm)
Zürich v Napoli (10 pm)
Viktoria Pilsen v Dinamo Zagreb (10 pm)
Club Brugge v Salzburg (10 pm)
Sporting Lisbon v Villarreal (10 pm)
Shakhtar Donetsk v Eintracht Frankfurt (10 pm)
Celtic v Valencia (10 pm)
Malmo v Chelsea (10 pm)