Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri DEFIANT on fan chants and Callum Hudson-Odoi

The Blues were lucky to beat Cardiff 2-1 at the weekend with supporters calling for the Italian to be axed throughout.

But Sarri was defiant in his press conference today ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Brighton tomorrow night (7.45pm).

He said: “I am not happy but I am not concerned, I can understand very well the frustrations but we are not doing so badly.

“We have won 33 games and I think in England only Man City did better than us.”

And Sarri also refused to confirm that Callum Hudson-Odoi would start against Brighton.

He explained: “First of all, the beginning of the season in pre-season after four or five training I realised that Callum was really a player with a great potential.

“In that moment he wasn’t ready to play at this level but during the season he has improved and is now ready to play but I decided at the start of the season that he has to stay with us and I put him in the squad.

“I know very well Callum and I want him to improve more because the potential is there.

“Callum is always in my mind, in my opinion he is our future and now he is ready to play.

“Probably he will start tomorrow or in the next match.”

Hudson-Odoi started for England in their last match away in Montenegro but he has yet to be used from the beginning of a Premier League game.

And Sarri has come under increasing pressure to play the starlet.

That’s because Chelsea sit down in sixth in the Premier League table and are in a fight with Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal for a place in the top four.

Sarri has also called on supporters to help the players in the last few matches of the season.

He said: “I think that they have to help the players, during the match. After they can say anything but during I hope they can help my players.

“I think we are a group and at the moment I think we a re a good group so I think that it’s not helpful for my players.

“For me it isn’t a problem, I am 60 so I can understand but when I was 25 it was probably different.”

source: express.co.uk