Earlier on Wednesday, we learned that Chelsea forward and world class footballer Eden Hazard wouldn’t be taking his talents to Greece as the Blues commence their 2018-19 European campaign. Hazard stayed behind in London, instead of traveling with the rest of his teammates for the Europa League group stage match at PAOK Salonika Thursday night.
Later on Wednesday we learned why- the 27-year-old Belgian is tired.
“He [Hazard] told me after the match against Cardiff he was tired so I thought it was better [for him] to rest,” Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri told the media.
It’s possible that Hazard could be suffering some post World Cup burnout, having played the maximum amount of games with Belgium. He’s certainly off to a rip roaring start in the Premier League though, as he netted a hat trick last weekend against Cardiff City. It will be interesting to see if he features against West Ham this weekend.
Sarri also confirmed that defender David Luiz and midfielder Mateo Kovacic were kept back in London due to fatigue and injury respectively.
Chelsea starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Injury Report, Match Preview: go to this link
Kick-off: 6 pm (BST), Thurday 20 Sept
Odds via Sky Bet: Chelsea 1/6, PAOK 4/7
Prediction: Chelsea FC 2, PAOK 0
Feel free to post your own Chelsea and/or PAOK starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match everybody!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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