Maurizio Sarri has become Chelsea’s very own Golden Balls by earning the club a huge Champions League windfall.

But head coach Sarri and his Blues players will have to win the Europa League to land any bonuses of their own.

Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Watford, coupled with Arsenal’s draw against Brighton, clinched a return to the Champions League which is worth upwards of £35 million to the club.

Eagle-eyed Italian football fans noticed that superstitious Sarri left nothing to chance after Chelsea’s success on Sunday, which put them on the brink of Champions League qualification, ahead of Arsenal’s match against Brighton.

Sarri was asked in the Watford post-match press conference whether, with Champions League qualification virtually secured, his team could treat the Europa League as a luxury.