Conte can’t put a price on Belgian star Hazard

LONDON: Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte could not be persuaded to put a price on star man Eden Hazard.

The Belgian winger scored a magnificent solo goal in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Arsenal last weekend, taking his tally for the campaign to 10 goals and leaving his side nine points clear atop the English Premier League.

His previous manager, Jose Mourinho, valued Hazard at “£100mil (RM554mil) per leg”, but Conte shied away from offering a valuation on Friday.

“I’m not very good to put a price on a player,” the Italian told a press conference at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, southwest of London.

“I think Eden, for sure, is a great player. A top player. He’s in a level very high. But I don’t see the problem, because we don’t want to sell him. He hasn’t a price now.”

Hazard, 26, was substituted towards the end of the game against Arsenal and Conte revealed he had taken him off to give the Stamford Bridge faithful a chance to show their appreciation.

“I wanted to give him a great applause of our fans,” Conte said.

“I think he deserved this for the game that he played, not only with the ball, but above all without the ball.

“When I make a substitution there is always a reason. Sometimes I try to preserve some players. Sometimes there is a technical choice.”

Having drawn 1-1 at Liverpool prior to the victory over Arsenal, Chelsea have won 16 of their last 18 league games, also dropping points in a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Jan 4.

Conte takes his side to Burnley today and while the Clarets sit 12th in the table, he is fully aware that their home record is bettered by only Chelsea and Tottenham.

“When you arrive after two really tough games against Liverpool and Arsenal it’s important to keep continuity and to try to win this game. It won’t be easy, this,” Conte said.