Hazard needs time to peak for Chelsea, says Sarri
Maurizio Sarri admitted Eden Hazard needs more time to get back to his very best despite an impressive 15-minute cameo as a substitute in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield. Sarri’s side overcame an awkward start at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday to give their new boss a victory on his Premier League debut at the end of a turbulent summer.
The appearance of Hazard came amid continuing uncertainty over the Belgian star’s future. Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, who signed Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois just two days before Sarri’s opening Premier League match - a transfer that added to the sense of instability at Stamford Bridge following Sarri’s arrival to replace the sacked Antonio Conte last month.
The future of Hazard, who only returned to training with his club a week ago after helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup, may not be sorted out until August 31, when the transfer window closes in Spain.
His quality was there for all to see during his brief appearance, with a fine run from midfield taking out several Huddersfield players before he slotted in Pedro to score Chelsea’s third goal. Asked if he was surprised by the effectiveness of Hazard’s contribution, Sarri said: “I think that Eden in this moment cannot play for 90 minutes. He has to improve, to have training. I think the best thing is for him to play 15-20 minutes when the opponents probably are tired.”
HUDDERSFIELD:
COURTOIS’S DEPARTURE
Thibaut Courtois would probably still be a Chelsea player had his family lived in London and not Madrid his agent told the BBC on Sunday. The 26-year-old Belgian’s agent Christophe Henrotay said: “There has been a misunderstanding that he wanted to get a move for the wrong reasons, but he was pushing to go out of Chelsea because of his children,” said Henrotay. “If the family were in London it would have been totally differ- ent. He would have stayed, there is no reason to leave a club like Chelsea.”
SEVIILA TO PULL OUT?
Sevilla have threatened to pull out of Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup clash with Barcelona if the La Liga champions field more than three non-European Union (EU) players.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Saturday that there would be no restrictions on players from outside the EU for the Super Cup, despite only three being allowed in squads for league matches.
Sevilla said they could withdraw from the game in Tangier, Morocco, if Barca name an “improper lineup”.
“Sevilla FC is surprised by the RFEF’s announcement 24 hours before the Super Cup,” Sevilla said in a statement.
“It has said that as many non-EU players as desired can be registered. In their last statement for the 2018-2019 season, only three were due to be allowed, without exception.
“The club’s legal department is studying the matter and should FC Barcelona line up with more than three non-EU players, it would present possible ground for withdrawal due to an improper line-up.”
RACIAL SLUR IN CSL?
A Chinese footballer has denied using a racial slur against Sengalese striker Demba Ba during a recent match, his first response to a race row that has rocked the Chinese Super League.
Changchun Yatai midfielder Zhang Li was banned for six matches and fined 42,000 yuan ($6,000) last week by the Chinese Football Association following his heated confrontation with Shanghai Shenhua’s Ba during a recent 1-1 draw.
Various Chinese media reported that Ba -- who was visibly angry -- later said that Zhang had hurled racially insulting remarks at him, and Yatai’s coach admitted an unnamed player had used “insulting language”.
HONDA IN CAMBODIA
Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda has signed a two-year contract to coach Cambodia’s national football team without pay, Honda and the country’s soccer chief said on Sunday. “Honda has volunteered to help coach Cambodian national football team,” Sao Sokha, president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), said in a press meet.
LONDON: TANGIERS: BELGIAN STAR HAZARD’S FUTURE IN CHELSEA MAY NOT BE SORTED OUT UNTIL AUGUST 31, WHEN THE TRANSFER WINDOW CLOSES IN SPAIN BEIJING: PHNOMPENH: