Chelsea defence stretched for Europa League after Cahill injury.
Chelsea's defensive depth is "in trouble" ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final at Eintracht Frankfurt after Gary Cahill sustained an Achilles tendon injury, manager Maurizio Sarri said.
England international Cahill did not travel to Germany with the squad and joins Antonio Rudiger on the sidelines, leaving the London club with only two fit senior central defenders.
"We're in trouble with the centre backs," Sarri told a news conference ahead of the first leg. "Cahill is out due to a problem with his Achilles tendon.
"I hope to have him recovered in a week but I don't know, I have to speak to the doctor. He's been out for four or five days."
Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta could provide cover in case of injuries to David Luiz and Andreas Christensen.
"I think he is the only other one who can play there," the Italian manager added. "But this is normal as we have played about 58 games. In the past we were lucky with injuries but not in the last 10 days."
Rudiger is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery and Sarri said he had tried to manage the German's injury until the end of the season before it flared up in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester United.
"We tried to arrive to the end of the season because sometimes you are able to do it, to play for one month," Sarri added.
"He was unlucky, but the situation without or with the match was the same. At the end of the season, he would have to have the surgery."
Getafe, Sevilla and Valencia eye Champions League riches
With Barcelona already crowned champions, the focus in Spain has shifted to a thrilling three-way battle for La Liga’s final Champions League berth, with Getafe, Sevilla and Valencia eyeing game-changing prize money worth at least 30 million euros (£25.7 million).
With three games to go, little-known Getafe have 55 points along with Sevilla but cling on to the coveted fourth spot due to their superior head-to-head record, while Valencia are sixth on 52 but have the best head-to-head record of the trio.
Sevilla host Leganes on Friday hoping to make up for their shock 1-0 defeat at Girona when they became the first team to lose away to the Catalans in six months, while on Sunday Getafe host Girona after a frustrating 2-1 surrender at Real Sociedad.
Valencia, who endured a chastening last-gasp defeat at home to Eibar last weekend, visit bottom club Huesca on Sunday but could be feeling the effects of their Europa League semi-final first leg away to Arsenal.
UEFA’s revenue distribution model means La Liga clubs can receive at least 30 million euros from a combination of appearance money, bonuses and the television pool in the Champions League even if they go out in the group stage.
Clubs can earn an additional 2.7 million for every game they win, while getting into the knockout phase would see them coin another 9.5 million, in addition to increased matchday revenues.
Valencia have reached the Champions League final twice, in 2000 and 2001, and returning to Europe’s premier competition would boost their plans to finish building their new stadium, which will require an extra 150 million euros.
Sevilla, who earned 48 million euros for reaching the quarter-finals last season, routinely sack coaches who fail to take the team into the Champions League, and they ousted Pablo Machin in March when their top-four hopes were looking bleak.
The money would have the biggest impact at Getafe, however, who have only existed in their current form since 1983 and play in a stadium holding only 17,000 spectators, which would look grossly out of place in the Champions League.
The Madrid outfit, who returned to the top flight two years ago, have the fourth-lowest budget in La Liga and qualifying for Europe’s top competition for the first time would cover two-thirds of their annual wage bill, estimated at 47.5 million.
FIFA ready to discuss concussion substitutions
FIFA is open to having discussions about temporary substitutions if players suffer serious head injuries in matches, its medical committee head Michel D'Hooghe has told the Times newspaper.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen tried to play on following a head clash in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg defeat by Ajax Amsterdam before going off, prompting brain injury charity Headway to call for changes to the rules.
"Introducing substitutes specifically for concussion is a possibility and something worth discussing," D'Hooghe told The Times newspaper.
"But if you bring a player off for 10 minutes and they are then reintroduced without warming up properly, it's more likely to lead to muscle injuries... there are problems with that too."
In addition to temporary substitutions, Headway called for "independent doctors with expertise in concussion" to take the final call on whether a player is fit to continue.
However, D'Hooghe believes it would be difficult for independent doctors to assess players.
"The advice from FIFA and UEFA is clear. At every occasion and before every tournament we tell the doctors that they must follow the protocols," he added.
"The team doctors must be responsible for their own players. They know the players and are in a better position to assess whether they have been unconscious, or are in danger."
Vertonghen underwent further assessment on Wednesday and tests would continue for the next few days, Tottenham said.
"We shall also be seeking independent advice and Jan is due to see a neurologist who specialises in elite athletes tomorrow. The player has reported no ill-effects today," the club said on their website.
Arsenal's Ramsey denied swansong as hamstring injury ends season
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury that also ends an 11-year career at the London club, Arsenal manager Unai Emery has said.
The 28-year-old, whose Arsenal contract expires next month, is set to join Italian side Juventus after signing a four-year agreement with the Serie A champions in February.
Wales international Ramsey, Arsenal's longest-serving current player, sustained the injury in the Europa League quarter-final victory at Napoli last month.
"It was a good experience to work with every player and with him especially, because he can transmit his energy and he showed me his heart is red with Arsenal," Emery told reporters ahead of Thursday's semi-final first leg against Valencia.
"I said to him one month ago that I wanted to do something important in his last matches with us at the moment, maybe he can come back in the future."
Ramsey moved to Arsenal in 2008 from Cardiff City and made more than 350 appearances in all competitions. He won the FA Cup three times.
"I am really disappointed not to play until the end and give everything for the club while I am still an Arsenal player," Ramsey said on Instagram.
"Unfortunately it's out of my hands but I wanted to say thank you to the fans for your support.
"I was a spotty young kid coming in and I'm leaving a man, married, father of three boys and full of pride and good memories that I will treasure."
