Date published: Thursday 7th March 2019 10:36
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri criticised fans and the press for putting pressure on Callum Hudson-Odoi after their 3-0 win over Dynamo Kiev.
The Blues dominated from the get-go and went ahead after 17 minutes, as a neat one-two between Pedro and Oliver Giroud allowed the Spaniard to squeeze his effort between the legs of Denys Boyko.
Kiev would offer more threat after the break, so Willian’s whipped free-kick into the top corner proved very timely to make it 2-0.
Substitutes would combine in the dying moments as Ruben Loftus-Cheek teed up Hudson-Odoi to provide the finish.
With a clean sheet in the bag, Kiev have their work cut out if they are to oust the Blues from the Europa League come the second-leg.
Speaking to BT Sport, Sarri said: “I think we played very well in the first half, I only didn’t like the 10 minutes after 2-0, we lowered our intensity.
“The third goal is very important, 3-0 is a very important result, but of course we have to play the second-leg and have to be careful.
“I think for us with this kind of opponent it is better to press like in the first-half, we can be dangerous.
“The second leg will be another kind of match, they will attack and we will have to defend lower.
“We have to be careful and play the second-leg with the same level of application and attention.”
Sarri spoke previously of his beliefs that too much pressure was being placed on 18-year-old sensation Hudson-Odoi, and the Italian continued his critique after the youngster made the scoresheet again.
“Hudson-Odoi is a very young player, he is 18 and he needs to improve,” he explained.
“I don’t like it when the press or fans put too much pressure on him.
“At the moment he only has to think of improving, you cannot be on top here at 18.
“He will be a top player here when he is 22 or 23 like the other players.”
