Tomorrow will see Chelsea travel to Newcastle to take on Rafa Benitez’s side in a repeat of the final fixture of last season. Maurizio Sarri faced the media yesterday ahead of the game and he claimed that after playing 30 minutes against Arsenal that Matteo Kovacic would be ready for an hour’s worth of action against the Magpies.
Sarri says Kovacic and Hazard played very well together in the last 30 minutes of the Arsenal game, and that Kovacic is now also ready for 60 minutes. #NEWCHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 24, 2018
The news that Kovacic is ready for an hour’s worth of action is huge for The Blues. The Real Madrid loanee will be keen to make an impact in the Northeast and if he can get on the scoresheet or claim an assist against Newcastle on Sunday it will help him settle into life at the club. Chelsea have won their first two game and Newcastle are yet to win this season, making the Blues the favourites for all three points.
This game last season was on the final day and it saw Benitez’s Newcastle tear Antonio Conte’s Chelsea apart as an Ayoze Perez double and a strike from Dwight Gayle downed the Blues and killed their top four chances. This time around, this promise to be different. A new look Chelsea should be too much for Newcastle to handle and if both Eden Hazard and Kovacic play from the start then it’s hard to see them not scoring on Tyneside.
You can read The Blues’ verdict on Sarri’s comments here:
Don’t worry guys 60 is enough. 90 would be unfair for the opposition
— Batsman Begins (@MagicMichy) 24 August 2018
Kovacic and Hazard starting will be
— i$nipe YB (@YB107905) 24 August 2018
Great news. Anticipating his game. #NEWCHE
— Owolabi Olalekan (@Olalekan_Owo) 24 August 2018
Play them both on Sunday.
— (@CescomobiIe) 24 August 2018
We want to see them our next match.
— Prince Cham (@PrinceCham4) August 24, 2018
I’m ready for a Hazard-Kovacic cameo
— Doctor Ngobeni (@manlikedoc) 24 August 2018
So make him start tomorrow
— (Retired) Brigadier General (@BlackPriide) August 24, 2018
The fans will be desperate to see Kovacic and Hazard from the start against Newcastle and they’ll be keen to extend their 100% record to three games.