‘I need reinforcements’: Chelsea boss backtracks on Liverpool and Manchester City claim

Maurizio Sarri admits the imposition of a transfer ban will prevent Chelsea from closing the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool and competing for the Premier League title.

Chelsea learnt on Wednesday that Fifa had rejected the club’s appeal against the two-window transfer ban imposed in February, in relation to breaches of regulations over the signing of youth players.

The club immediately announced it will take its case to the court of arbitration for sport and will request that the ban is frozen while the appeal is heard, allowing Chelsea to make signings this summer.

‘Very disappointed’

“The club is very disappointed that the transfer ban of two consecutive registration periods was not overturned,” said a club statement. “Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the Fifa Appeal Committee. It acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”

Read more: When is Chelsea vs Frankfurt? Kick-off time, TV channel, team news, odds and predictions

The decision came as Sarri prepared his side for Thursday evening’s Europa League semi-final second leg with Eintracht Frankfurt at Stamford Bridge, when Chelsea will attempt to build on the 1-1 first leg draw.

Having already secured a place in next season’s Champions League after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat of Watford guaranteed a top-four finish, a place in a European final would confirm a positive end to an inconsistent season. Sarri, though, acknowledges a transfer ban would hinder his side’s chances of closing the gap to the top two.

The Chelsea head coach has previously expressed his confidence his side could compete on equal terms with Liverpool and City two within two years but insisted on Wednesday he needs reinforcements to progress.

‘We need something from the market’

“It’s very difficult to cover the gap, at the moment. We need to work,” said Sarri, whose side currently lie third, 24 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s City side who top the table.

Read more: Is Chelsea’s good season down to the genius of Maurizio Sarri – or the brilliance of Eden Hazard?

“Probably we’d need something from the market. So it’s not easy because the level of the top two is very, very high. And, as we can see in Europe, it’s not easy. We have to work and we have to try, of course. In my opinion, we can reduce the gap.”

Pressed on how many players he would need to bring in, the Italian added: “I don’t believe when you buy 10 players. I think we have to buy only one or two players. Otherwise it’s very difficult to improve immediately. I think we are a very good team, and so we need only one or two players, no more.”

Sarri, though, insisted he would be happy to work with youngsters already at the club and said up to three of the players currently out on loan had caught his eye. “Two or three players who are very interesting, of course. But we need to consider the level (they are playing at),” he added.

‘The fans believe in us’

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the midfielder, admitted a transfer ban could help young players hoping to break through into the first team squad. “If the club is banned from making any transfers, then we’d have to keep the squad we have and bring some of the loan players back in, and that would give them an opportunity to play more,” he said.

Read more: 5 Chelsea youngsters who could benefit from transfer ban

“But, for me, that’s not something that should be used to get an opportunity to play. It should be down to hard work and playing well.”

Loftus-Cheek, 23, has made steady progress since returning from a season-long loan at Crystal Palace and believes the club’s supporters would welcome the presence of more home-grown players in the side. “When the young players come on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, they always get a fantastic reception,” he said. “The fans respect us and believe in us. That would be a good thing for us young players, to have an opportunity to play more, if we do get a ban.”

The England midfielder is expected to start on Thursday in place of N’Golo Kante who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up against Watford. Loftus-Cheek, who indicated he has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge, has had his own problems with a long-standing back complaint but insists he has the problem under control.

“It’s hindered me a lot,” he said. “But, over the years learning about my body with the physios, we’ve come up with a routine to keep it at bay. I’ve not had a twinge in my back for weeks now. It’s looking really good.”