Sarri finally lands loan star Higuain
‘Eden not a leader’
MAURIZIO SARRI has accused Eden Hazard of not being a leader on the pitch, saying he must “respect” himself and do more.
Just days after the Chelsea manager publicly attacked his squad, describing them as hard to motivate after a 2-0 loss at Arsenal, Sarri has risked his relationship with his star player. Real Madrid target Hazard, above, is again set to lead Chelsea’s attack in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge tonight. He is Belgium’s captain and
Chelsea’s key player and top scorer. But Sarri said Hazard, still yet to sign the £300,000-a-week contract the club have offered him, has still to make up his mind about his future.
And the manager did not stop there. “Eden is more an individual player than a leader,” he said. “He is very important for us. He can win a match in two minutes, sometimes one. He’s a great player, one of the best in the world. But at the moment, he’s not a leader.
“Eden is discussing his future with the club. He has not decided yet if he wants to stay here or wants a new experience at another club. At the moment, Eden doesn’t know the final choice.”
This week, Hazard said he had tested the patience of his Chelsea coaches. But Sarri said: “I prefer him when he speaks with his feet. He said coaches told him that he needs to do more. I think he has to do more.
“The potential is higher than the performances. He has to respect himself first. Eden is a wonderful player. But an individual player, an instinctive player. He wants the ball at his feet – so it is very difficult for him to play as a striker but also as a winger.
“We have to organise the other 10 players in the defensive phase because he needs to play everywhere.”
Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, above, finally completed his loan signing last night but was not registered by the midday deadline to be available to play in the Tottenham tie. He is now expected to make his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Sunday and will wear the No9 shirt.
Higuain, 31, has joined for the rest of the season with the option for a further year’s loan and the possibility of a permanent move at a total potential cost of about £45million.
Sarri said: “We hope Gonzalo brings goals for us. He’s a very strong striker.”
The deal is expected to see Spanish striker Alvaro Morata complete a loan move to Atletico Madrid with a view to a permanent deal. Sarri said: “Morata is a very good player. But one month ago, he said he wanted to play in another team.”
Chelsea wide man Victor Moses is today expected to complete a loan move for the rest of the season to Turkish side Fenerbahce.