WINNING SMILES
Hazard loving his time with Sarri and Chelsea’s new brand of fast, fluid and FUN football
EDEN HAZARD wants to win and have fun under Maurizio Sarri’s guidance this season before making a decision on his future at Chelsea.
But the Blues favourite insisted he will not force his way out of Stamford Bridge in the way his fellow Belgian Thibaut Courtois did.
Hazard’s brilliance has led Sarri’s stylish side to be level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City. Yet a potential title tilt threatens to be overshadowed by uncertainty over the best player currently in English football.
After winning the title under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Hazard has brought his World Cup form back to the Premier League for new boss Sarri.
The fast, attacking brand of football the Italian favours is perfect for Hazard – and he believes it is perfect for Chelsea too.
“I think he’s a great manager,” said Hazard (above). “You want to play for these kinds of managers because the way he wants us to play is the way that I want to play.
“We had some great results in the past so I can’t say the managers before weren’t good, but I think in terms of football and the way we’re playing, yes, this is the best football since I’ve been at Chelsea. A lot of pass and move. Then we also have good players in our team so that’s why we’re playing this great football.
“So I’m just thinking about this season. I want to win something with him and then we will think about what happens at the end of the season.
“But now, in my head, it’s just play and enjoy football, then try to win the games.”
Hazard, who said he was open to talks about a contract extension, is the latest Chelsea player to praise the manmanagement skills of Sarri (top, right) in contrast to his more abrupt predecessors.
“He’s very good,” said the Belgian. “He’s talking a lot with the players. He is joking a lot. When you see him, maybe you think he is a bit focused on the game but he can make some jokes.
“I think we need that. He is a funny guy but he likes to work. When it’s time to enjoy, then he wants us to enjoy. When he’s talking about football, the first thing he says is let’s make you enjoy. That’s good.
“What might make me stay? I am happy and I don’t need anything. It is not trophies. Of course, when you play, you want to win but I want to enjoy things on the pitch, like I am at the moment. Then I am happy.”
Hazard, who has scored nine times in his last nine matches for club and country, is on course to match Mo Salah’s prolific last campaign. But the Blues star said: “It is hard to reach 40. It is possible but not in my mind.
“At the moment, I am just shooting and scoring goals.”
From pre-season predictions of a two-horse title race, Chelsea are now definitely also in the running.
“When teams play against Chelsea, they’re a bit scared because we have great players,” he said. “It is like when you play Liverpool or Manchester City. This is a big team.”
But not the biggest in the world for Hazard as he repeated his summer wooing of Real Madrid.
Courtois (inset) moved to the Bernabeu in August after going on strike at Stamford Bridge before entering the final year of his contract.
“I don’t want that,” Hazard said. “I want what’s good for me, but I want what’s good for the club because the club has given me everything. I don’t want to say, ‘Yes I’m signing a new contract’ and then in the end I don’t end up signing. So I will see.”