Sarri can mould Hazard into a goal machine
LONDON: It was five months ago yesterday that Eden Hazard was asked to sum up Chelsea’s pitiful performance after losing 1-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
“We could have played for three hours,” began the Belgian, who was used as a false nine by Antonio Conte, “and I still wouldn’t have touched the ball.”
The front page of the Daily Mail’s Verdict pullout described it as a ‘crime against football’ alongside a picture of Conte wincing and Hazard did not disagree.
No shots on target, no ambition. It was excruciatingly poor to watch, and judging by Hazard’s take on the performance, even poorer to play in.
That was life under the old Italian coach. Now, there is a new sheriff in town, and one who wants to shoot down Pep Guardiola’s City in the Community Shield today.
Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea meet City for the first time since their embarrassing effort under Conte at the Etihad in March.
Hazard will not be able to feature, having only returned to Cobham for training yesterday, but he will get to witness how Sarri’s 4-3-3 system works in the flesh.
Chelsea’s pretty passing and high press has been evident in pre-season, with everything going through stylish £57 million (RM302 million) summer signing Jorginho.
It involves a fluid forward line. At Napoli, Sarri’s wingers would often cut inside — already a trait of Hazard’s — as the full-backs pushed up the pitch to cover the flanks.
It can leave them light at the back but this is the Sarri way. It means the forwards then have the freedom to dribble, create a chance for a teammate or, quite often, score themselves.
Left-sided forward Lorenzo Insigne is an example of this. He went from getting 16 goals in his first three seasons at Napoli to scoring 47 in his following three under Sarri.
That is an area that Hazard can improve in.
The Belgian is occasionally mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah because he is exceptionally gifted in several areas.
Even in 2017-18, during a difficult time under Conte, Hazard topped the Premier League for dribbles completed (165). He also created the fourth most chances (84) and was the fourth most fouled (82).
What is absent, however, is an abundance of goals. Messi, Ronaldo and Salah all scored more than 40 apiece last season, while Hazard got 17. His best scoring season to date for Chelsea is 19 and that was in all competitions in 2014-15.
In the upcoming campaign, though, he may get his chance to finally break the 20-goal mark.
Real Madrid have been chasing Hazard but Chelsea have issued a hands-off warning, saying they won’t sell their superstar ahead of Sarri’s first season.
The Italian has been planning for his Premier League bow with Hazard on the left and the former Napoli coach thinks he can make the 27-year-old even better.
It will be unfortunate for Callum Hudson-Odoi, the 17-yearold who has stood out in preseason, but he will have chances in other competitions.
Hazard is set to stay put and if he can adapt to the Sarri system, this season could be the one where it properly clicks for Chelsea’s superstar in front of goal.