BRAVE NEW WORLD
Hazard says Chelsea boss Sarri’s fearless attacking style is key to sizzling form that has made him one of the hottest players on the planet
EDEN HAZARD believes Chelsea’s new-found attacking instinct is the reason he is being hailed as one of the world’s top three players.
The Belgium star was voted in to FIFA’s team of the year last week, and his goals form has brought comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hazard believes he is no different than he has been for the past three years, but there is a difference at Chelsea this term – boss Maurizio Sarri’s commitment to possession and attacking football.
“You see it on the pitch,” said Hazard. “We’ve players we didn’t have last season, players who like to have the ball. We have more possession than before.
“The attacking players benefit from that. We get more touches, more opportunities to create chances, to dribble more, more chances to shoot on target.
“Sarri is a manager who likes to have the ball. That makes a big difference. Besides that, he’s an Italian. Just like under Conte there’s a lot of tactics and we have to work hard in training.”
Hazard displayed his incredible form in glorious technicolour when he emerged as a second-half sub in the Carabao Cup at Liverpool, and produced a stunning winning goal.
The little magician has been pursued by Real Madrid, amid talk he is most gifted of his generation and a natural successor to Ronaldo and Messi at the elite end of world football.
He is naturally delighted at the comparison, but thinks it is merely the seven goals he has scored already this campaign which prompted the talk.
“It’s good, but I’m still the same. I’m still the same.”
“I try to do what I can do when on the pitch. I’m the same player as two years ago, three years ago. At the moment, I’m scoring goals, that’s why everyone is talking about me being in the top three.
“It’s a pleasure to be there. I just want to keep going.”
Sarri suggested Hazard is talented enough to bag 40 goals this term, but the Belgian will be content with a trophy as his biggest target . . even though he believes tomorrow’s visitors Liverpool, and Manchester City, are strong favourites for the title.
“We know that at the end of the season, City, Liverpool, maybe Chelsea, Tottenham, are going to compete for the title,” he added.
“My only target is to win something every year, I want to win trophies. We won the FA Cup last year so we knew the Premier League is going to be hard. City, Liverpool, they have a lot of good players and good teams so we will give everything.
“It’s not important how many goals I score. You know me, I don’t care about that. I just want to enjoy my football and win games.”
And he is certainly doing that – playing with a smile on his face.
“Always,” added Hazard. “Even when things aren’t going well, I try to be happy on the pitch. At the moment, we’re winning games so it is more easy to smile.” Hazard did have one less joyful note for Chelsea fans – he dismissed talk originating in Italy that he is about to sign a new deal
“I haven’t signed a contract,” he said. “Not yet. Not yet.”