Despite transfer request, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri starts Callum Hudson-Odoi against the player’s wishes (UPDATED)

According to a new report by the Daily Mail, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is going to start want-away winger Callum Hudson-Odoi against Sheffield Wednesday, despite the player’s wish to move to Bayern Munich. Having put in an official transfer request yesterday, the youngster is reportedly worried about the reception he will receive from the Chelsea faithful at the Bridge.

The report states that this is an attempt by the Italian to reassert his authority after Hudson-Odoi handed in his transfer request. The Mail alleges that the player confided in his friends before the game that he did not want to play the Blue’s FA Cup tie on Saturday, but the manager put him on the lineup anyway.

Why this doesn’t make sense

Why would Maurizio Sarri, a manager famous for being conservative with his lineups, decide to start a player who has barely played this season, and isn’t even 100% committed? There’s power-play, and then there’s stupidity. Sheffield Wednesday may be in 17th place in the English Championship, but that doesn’t make them easy pushovers.

It’s more likely that Sarri is just desperate to give Eden Hazard or Willian a rest. Hudson-Odoi was shown to be practicing drills with the rest of the team in the buildup to this game, and there was always a strong chance that he could start.

It may be true that the player would prefer to be in Munich by now, we can’t prove or disprove it. In fact, we don’t even know if he WILL be on the starting lineup. Maybe, when lineups for Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday come out, then we’ll be able look back and this rumor and conclude whether it was true or not. Until then, all we can do is speculate and hope this transfer resolves itself soon.

Update

Speaking to the media after the Stuttgart game, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic had this to say:

Meanwhile, Hudson-Odoi starts for Chelsea: