Chelsea's complaint over the alleged racist abuse of Callum Hudson-Odoi during a Europa League clash at Dynamo Kiev will be investigated by a UEFA inspector. The Premier League side revealed last week that chairman Bruce Buck and their club secretary had spoken to UEFA's match delegate regarding an accusation of racist abuse of a Chelsea player in the closing stages of their 5-0 victory in Ukraine. In their statement, Chelsea pointed out that they expected “a fulsome investigation” to be carried out into the matter. The Blues said: "We can confirm a report of racist abuse directed at one of our players in the final minutes of the match in Kiev from a small section of home supporters. We wholeheartedly condemn such abhorrent behaviour. "The matter was reported to the referee at the final whistle and the chairman and club secretary spoke to the UEFA match delegate immediately after the match. We expect UEFA to conduct a fulsome investigation and we will provide full cooperation." UEFA has now confirmed an inspector will determine whether there is enough evidence to charge Kiev. "An ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a complaint lodged by Chelsea about the alleged racist abuse of the player Callum Hudson-Odoi," a statement from European football’s governing body read. "The ethics and disciplinary inspector will now evaluate whether or not there is sufficient evidence to open disciplinary proceedings against Dynamo Kiev in accordance with article 55(1)(f) and (2) of the UEFA disciplinary regulations. "Information in respect of this evaluation will be made available in due course." This update follows UEFA charging Montenegro with racist behaviour after alleged incidents that occurred in England's 5-1 win in Podgorica, when teenage winger Hudson-Odoi made his first senior start for the Three Lions. Speaking about the incidents in the Montenegro game, Hudson-Odoi said he had heard "monkey stuff". He told beIN SPORTS: "I don't think discrimination should be anywhere, we are equal. "We have to play a fair game and enjoy the moment, but when you're hearing stuff like that from the fans, it's not right, it's unacceptable. Hopefully UEFA deal with it properly."

Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega is glad to see sporting director Monchi back at the club following an absence of two years. After finishing his playing career at Sevilla in 1999, the former goalkeeper became the club's sporting director the following year and swiftly helped bring about their return to the top flight. In 17 years with Monchi at the helm, the Andalusian side enjoyed the most successful period in their history, winning five UEFA Cup/Europa League titles in the process. Monchi left Sevilla for Roma in 2017, citing the desire for a new challenge, but things did not go entirely to plan in Italy and he departed in early March. A reunion with his former Sevilla colleague Unai Emery at Arsenal appeared to be on the cards, but Monchi opted to return home and Banega – who was initially brought to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in 2014 – thinks he will offer a great deal to the club once again. "It's an extra reason to be happy," the Argentina international told Sevilla's official website of Monchi's return. "Not just for how he works, but for how he is as a person. Monchi brings a lot to the club. We're all happy he's back." Monchi's return was facilitated by the sacking of coach Pablo Machin, who was subsequently replaced by the club's previous sporting director Joaquin Caparros. Machin was let go following Sevilla's shock Europa League elimination at the hands of Slavia Prague, though Banega maintains the former Girona tactician was a fine coach. "Machin is a very good manager," he said. "Results are what count in this business and we couldn't find that cutting edge to get the wins. "We have to keep fighting to finish in the Champions League places and a large part of that [Sevilla being in such a position] is thanks to him. "Caparros is a great motivator and his experience will help us in our goal to qualify for the Champions League. "We have two important games at home now to put the pressure on the other teams around us." Sevilla face Banega's former side Valencia on Sunday, as they bid to move level on 46 points with fourth-place Getafe, who are coached by Jose Bordalas, an early favourite to become Machin's full-time successor.

David Luiz has warned Chelsea to expect more twists and turns in their Europa League campaign, with the Brazil international claiming “to win a tournament is not just flowers”. The former Benfica centre-back knows all about chasing down continental glory. He formed part of an historic Champions League success for Chelsea in 2012 as Europe was conquered by the Blues for the first time. A penalty shoot-out success over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena was then followed by another triumph 12 months later. The Europa League was secured in 2013 with a 2-1 win over Benfica. That proved to be an emotional occasion for Luiz against his former club, but he was delighted to get his hands on more major silverware. Chelsea are now back in the hunt for 2019, with Mauruzio Sarri’s side having made their way to the quarter-finals. Slavia Prague are next up for a side expected to mount a serious challenge for the ultimate prize, but Luiz is aware that the Blues will not have things all their own way. He told the club’s official website: “To understand we have to be ready for every single moment. “Bad moments can arrive, emotional moments can arrive, hard moments can arrive, and we have to be ready for that. To win a tournament is not just flowers. “I have learned a lot in my career, and football is nice because there is always something new, and you also have to be ready for that!” Chelsea are yet to suffer a defeat in this season’s Europa League. Impressive progress has been made to the quarter-finals, with Dynamo Kiev swept aside 8-0 on aggregate in the last 16. Sarri’s side should be confident of prolonging their adventure, but there is the potential for bigger tests to come. Napoli and Arsenal have been paired together in the last eight, so one of them will have to fall, but the likes of Valencia, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt and Benfica are also still in the mix. Chelsea will return to European action against Slavia on April 11, but have Premier League meetings with Cardiff City, Brighton and West Ham to take in before then.

The Europa League is not Chelsea's only route to Champions League qualification, according to Cesar Azpilicueta. Maurizio Sarri's side missed the chance to go level on points with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park . The Blues are sixth in the standings with only eight games of the 2018-19 campaign remaining, one point behind Manchester United and three behind the Gunners. A Europa League triumph in May would ultimately make up for their domestic failings and ensure their progress to the Champions League next season, but Azpilicueta has urged his team-mates not to put all their eggs in one basket. "We missed a chance to get points and every time you don't get the three points you put yourself in a more difficult position," he told reporters. "There is still a lot of games to play and we are going to fight because we cannot miss Champions League qualification. "I don't see just the Europa League as the only way of being in the Champions League, because Chelsea's place is not to be sixth in the Premier League so I cannot accept this." Chelsea have drawn Slavia Prague in the last eight of the Europa League and they have been installed as favourites to win the crown come May . In the Premier League, Sarri's men have away fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United to negotiate in the coming months, but Azpilicueta still feels that they are in control of their own destiny. "There is a way of going into the Champions League, it is a trophy, and we will play until the end but we are not in a position in the league where you can say we are not going to reach the Champions League spots," he added. "If we had won the (last) two games we would be third going into the international break and we could have said we were already in the Champions League. "Obviously with five more points, we could have been much better." After the international break, Chelsea will resume their league campaign with a trip to Cardiff City on March 31, before hosting West Ham at Stamford Bridge eight days later.  

Kalidou Koulibaly has described Napoli's Uefa Europa League quarter-final fixture against Arsenal as a 'very exciting' challenge. Despite bowing to a 3-1 loss against RB Salzburg on Thursday, the Partenopei overcame the Austrian champions to progress to the last-eight stage with a 4-3 aggregate win. Koulibaly missed the match, serving a ban after picking three yellow cards in the European competition this season. On Friday, Napoli were paired against Unai Emery's side with the first leg scheduled for the Emirates Stadium on April 11 and the 27-year-old, a regular fixture in Carlo Ancelotti's squad this season, is anticipating the encounter. "Very exciting," Koulibaly tweeted. Very exciting