Eden Hazard Asked for Rest Against PAOK Because He's Tired, Says Maurizio Sarri

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri will rest Eden Hazard for the UEFA Europa League opener against PAOK on Thursday because the player told the boss he's tired.

Sarri made the revelation in his pre-match press conference: "He told me that after the national team and after the match against Cardiff [City] he was a little bit tired. I thought it was better to stay in Cobham, to have training and to rest."

Hazard had a busy summer, as he was a key member of the Belgium team that finished in third place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He had a late start to pre-season and took some time getting up to speed, but he's been an integral part of Sarri's team since making his first start of the campaign against Newcastle United on Aug. 26.

The 27-year-old was kept active during the recent international break, starting for Belgium in the friendly against Scotland and the UEFA Nations League clash with Iceland. Given that it's a long season and the Europa League is not seen as a priority for the Blues, it's smart to rest the star forward.

He's not the only one who didn't make the trip to Greece, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:

The Blues will travel across London to face West Ham United on Sunday, a fixture that has proved difficult in the past. Last season, the Hammers shocked Chelsea at home and held on for a draw at Stamford Bridge.

That match will be followed by back-to-back fixtures against Liverpool in the EFL Cup and Premier League. The Reds have arguably been the best team in Europe this season. They have won all of their matches, including a 3-2 victory over French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Hazard will likely be key in all those contests. The forward has been in sensational form this season, as evidenced by these stats:

Thessaloniki-based PAOK haven't won a Greek title since 1985 and are generally regarded as the top team behind the league's Big Three of Olympiakos, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos. They have started the season with three straight wins but sit two points behind their main title rivals, courtesy of a points deduction.

Per Gill, Ruben Loftus-Cheek did travel to Greece, but Sarri gave no guarantee the midfielder would receive any minutes.