PAOK vs Chelsea: Maurizio Sarri reveals he rested Eden Hazard for Europa League tie amid fears of burnout

Maurizio Sarri revealed he left Chelsea’s star player Eden Hazard out of their opening Europa League squad to protect him from suffering burnout.

Hazard has been in superb form for the Blues so far this term, scoring five goals in as many League games.

However, the attacking midfielder has remained in London rather than travelling with the squad to take on Paok Salonika in Thessalonika tomorrow night.

Hazard spent the summer helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup. He had just three weeks off before resuming pre-season training a few days before they played at Huddersfield.

Sarri revealed Hazard complained about feeling fatigue after his hat-trick against Cardiff on Saturday and decided not to take any risks, especially with big League games against West Ham and Liverpool coming up.

He explained: “Hazard told me that after the national team and after the match against Cardiff he was a little bit tired so I thought it was better to stay in Cobham, to have training and to rest.”

David Luiz (rested), Emerson (fever) and Mateo Kovacic (thigh) have also stayed in the capital and Sarri confirmed he will make four or five changes to his first XI.

However, the Italian didn’t give any assurances that Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has played just 33 minutes for Chelsea this season, will get a start.

He said: “Loftus-Cheek for me is a very good player but I don't know if there is a spot for him tomorrow. Of course there will be a spot for him in the future.

“Now it is very difficult because in the first part of the season it is very important to play with possibly the same players just to have a very solid team.

"Tomorrow, I have to change four-five players but it is impossible in this moment of the season to change 11 players in the match.”

Loftus-Cheek has already indicated that he will consider a return to Crystal Palace on loan, where he was last term, in January should he continue to be ignored.

When asked if he was worried Loftus-Cheek could get frustrated, Sarri replied: “I don't know. Unfortunately we have to play with 11 players and I have 28 so 17 players will not agree with me.

“There is a match tomorrow, a match on Wednesday (Liverpool in Carabao Cup) after the match on Sunday against West Ham.

"I think that in these two matches there will be a chance for everybody, not for 25, 28 players but for 20 players. Unfortunately the view is this.”