Eden Hazard is set to return for Chelsea’s EFL
Cup semi-final against Arsenal but new recruit
Ross Barkley is not yet ready for first-team
action.
Hazard sat out Saturday’s 0-0 FA Cup draw at
Norwich City having sustained a knock to the calf
but is available to feature when the Gunners visit
Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The Belgium star won and converted a penalty in
the midst of a dazzling performance when
Chelsea drew 2-2 at Arsenal in the Premier
League last week.
“Eden is in a good physical condition. He had a
little problem but he is in contention for the
game,” head coach Antonio Conte told a pre-
match news conference.
Barkley’s situation is not so straightforward, with
the new £15million signing from Everton yet to
play competitively this season following
hamstring surgery.
Conte is impressed by how the England
international has taken to training with the
Premier League champions but urged caution over
his progress.
“Wednesday night, I think is very soon for him but
his physical condition is good. He has started to
do the training sessions with us to understand
our idea of football.
“He must be pleased but he needs a bit of time
to work on the physical and tactical aspect. But I
think his condition is very good.
“It is very difficult to say when he will play but,
at the same time, I am very positive because the
player is a good guy and showing great will and
desire to work and help us very soon.
“It’s positive and I am very happy to have Ross
with us for the rest of the season.”
Both legs of the semi-final will use the video
assistant referee (VAR) system after the
technology made its English debut in Brighton and
Hove Albion’s 2-1 FA win over Crystal Palace on
Monday.
VAR has been used in Serie A this season and,
although the implementation has not been
without its problems, Conte feels the system has
proved a positive overall in his homeland and can
make a favourable impression in England.
“I think this is a good opportunity to improve our
football but at the same time it will be very
important to have a bit of time to use this new
option in the right way,” he said.
“I am positive because, when there is a big
mistake it is right to try and correct a big
mistake.”
Conte added: “At the start [in Serie A] it wasn’t
easy to accept this type of solution, to stop the
play and to wait for the right decision form the
VAR.
“But I think this could be a good solution because
you reduce the mistakes, especially big mistakes,
and I think it’s right for football to have a game
with less mistakes.”
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