Chelsea\'s Sarri warns players of \'dangerous\' Eintracht

SHOWS: FRANKFURT, GERMANY (MAY 1, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA COACH MAURIZIO SARRI, SAYING: "I respect very much Eintracht, they played against Inter in this competition.

They played against Benfica in this competition.

They are really very dangerous.

A very dynamic team with a great intensity.

Physically with the same charateristics as Slavia Prague, but the quality is different, especially in the offensive players.

So I think that they are really very dangerous at home, but also away, and so for us it will really be very difficult to get to the final I think." 2.

WHITE FLASH 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (German) FRANKFURT EINTRACHT COACH ADI HUETTER, SAYING: "Chelsea is the clear favourite in this duel.

I think we don't need to discuss that.

Especially if you look at the statistics, how they have played now in the Europe League in the group stages and in the knock-out phase which they have a won.

We know what we are facing.

But if you are in the semi-finals then you want to use that chance and play courageous and positively at home tomorrow.

But we need to do almost everything perfect in order to have a good result and create a good starting position for the second leg." STORY: Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has warned his side of the attacking threats posed by German opponents Eintracht Frankfurt, who they take on in the semi-final of the Europa League on Thursday (May 1).

Speaking at a news conference in Frankfurt, Chelsea's Italian coach described how Eintracht proved themselves a 'very dangerous' side with 'great intensity' when they beat Benfica in the previous round.

He also predicted Eintracht would make it very hard for his team to reach the final.

Chelsea also revealed on Wednesday (May 1) that defender Antonio Rudiger will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery for an injury sustained in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester United.

Sarri said he was "a little" worried about injuries in the team.

"So we are in trouble with the centre-backs, and in the last two trainings we played with (Cesar) Azpilicueta as centre-back, because... I think he is the only one who can play there.

So we are in trouble now, but I think it is normal, it can happen.

We played 58 matches, and so in the past we were lucky with injuries, in the last ten days no.

I do worry a little," said Sarri.

Rudiger, who hurt his left knee and limped off after 65 minutes, will miss Chelsea's final two league matches against Watford and Leicester as well as their Europa League campaign.