Mateo Kovacic urges Chelsea to use Liverpool's Red Star upset as a warning against complacency
Mateo Kovacic has told Chelsea to use Liverpool’s Belgrade nightmare as a warning as they bid to secure a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.
Kovacic, the Chelsea midfielder, believes Liverpool’s embarrassment against Red Star should eradicate any complacency for Maurizio Sarri’s squad ahead of their game in Borisov on Thursday night.
Sarri has gone 16 games unbeaten since the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City and can secure progression to the knockout stage in Europe with a victory over the Belarusian champions.
Chelsea are expecting a raucous atmosphere in the Borisov Arena and Kovacic is determined to ensure Chelsea avoid suffering the same troubles as Jurgen Klopp, whose own European campaign is now in jeopardy.
“I watched the game against Liverpool and they struggled a lot. In Belgrade the atmosphere is tough and it was difficult for Liverpool, like it will be here,” said Kovacic.
“These are the games where you need to concentrate a lot because if you don’t, you lose. We have to be prepared and we don’t want what happened to Liverpool to happen to us.”
Kovacic, on loan from Real Madrid, insists Chelsea are still waiting to find top gear despite the club’s impressive start under their new manager.
Sarri has guided Chelsea to second place in the Premier League while he has won all three games in Group L so far.
Kovacic said: “We are still unbeaten but we are not playing at our highest level yet, because we’ve been with the coach for only two or three months.
“We need to improve a lot. It needs time to understand completely and work on his football, but we're doing a great job.
“Manchester City struggled in their first season [under Pep Guardiola] but I think we can have a great season.”
Sarri has opted to rest striker Alvaro Morata, while N’Golo Kante was a late call-up to the travelling squad after Cesc Fabregas was taken ill.
Eden Hazard flew out with the squad from Gatwick Airport and is expected to play at least 50 minutes.
Sarri said: “Morata played three matches in a row, so I thought it was better for him to stay in Cobham to rest and to have two good training sessions.
“Sometimes it's better to actually rest than always play. Sometimes the players need to train on some specific things, to work on physical qualities, instead on other things they don't have to.
Bate Borisov wrapped up their 13th consecutive league championship on Sunday, but are bottom of the group on goal difference.
