HAZARD HAS NEW FAN IN CONTE
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY GAME Belgium winger wows Bridge chief Antonio
EDEN HAZARD has won over new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte already after his stunning performance against Burnley.
Hazard’s astonishing drop in form last season, when he went from PFA Player of the Year to also-ran, is one of football’s great mysteries.
The Belgian winger was blamed for getting Jose Mourinho the sack as his form collapsed and fans complained his attitude stank.
He looked a shadow of his former self for eight months and didn’t score a single goal in the Premier League until April at Bournemouth.
But Hazard, 25, has undergone another transformation since then – and was outstanding as he scored the opener in a 3-0 victory over Burnley which was secured by further goals from Willian and Victor Moses.
Conte, who has clearly made a point of boosting the winger, said: “Eden is a fantastic player. He has great talent and also I know he’s a good guy.
“What’s important is that he wants to improve and wants to work very hard to improve himself – and I am pleased about this.
“I want to work with my players to improve them and put them in the best condition to show their talent – and Hazard is one of those.
“There are others but above all I’m talking about the wingers.
“We have fantastic wingers who are all very good one versus one. It’s important to put them in the best condition and I’m very happy for Eden.”
Watching Hazard in action against Burnley it was hard to even compare him to the player who underachieved so badly last season. He opened 6; Ivanovic 7, CHELSEA (4-1-4-1): Courtois Kante 8; Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; 6, HAZARD 9 Willian 7 (Moses 77), Oscar 7, Matic 80). (Pedro 81); Costa 6 (Batushuayi Aina. Subs: Begovic, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, League, UP NEXT: Swansea (a), Premier Sunday, September 11. Lowton 5, BURNLEY (4-4-2): HEATON 8; 6 (O’Neill 57, Keane 6, Mee 6, Ward 6; Defour 6 7), Marney 6 (Tarkowski 72), Arfield Vokes 5, Gray 5. (Gudmundsson 57, 6), Boyd 6; Darikwa. Subs: Kightly, Robinson, Jutkiewicz, Saturday, UP NEXT: Hull (h), Premier League, September 10. Referee: Mark Clattenburg 7. off for Chelsea YOUR TURN: Who was sent a 1-1 draw in when they last hosted Burnley, February 2015?
Fantastic
the scoring after only nine minutes, racing all the way from the halfway line before sending a slide-rule shot into the far corner from 20 yards.
“It’s an important time for him,” said Conte. “Last season is the past but it’s important to remember, always, and to keep last season in our minds. When there is a difficult situation it’s important to look back and find new strength to go forward.”
Having performed so badly last season Chelsea, who have no European football to distract them, already have four victories in a row under Conte in all competitions.
“It’s important to start the new season in the right way,” said Conte.
Desperate
“We face every game with the right intensity, concentration and focus.”
First priority for Conte going into transfer deadline week remains finding a big-name defender to add to his squad. But for Burnley the picture is rather more complicated.
Manager Sean Dyche is desperate for reinforcements and has Chelsea reserve striker Patrick Bamford in his sights.
“We’re looking and we’re certainly active,” he said. “But there’s no guarantees. We do need support, we are in the market so let’s see what happens.
“The new TV money has changed the market but that money can only be used immediately if you’ve got a backer who is going to carry the can for the next three, four or five years.
“We’ve got wealthy people on the board but they’re not wealthy at the same level as the people here at Chelsea.”