CHELSEA CARDIFF MY EURO DAZZLER
Sarri: Hazard is better than Messi or Ronaldo
MAURIZIO SARRI claimed Eden Hazard is better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by dubbing him the best player in Europe.
Hazard struck a hat-trick and Willian was also on target as Chelsea beat Cardiff 4-1.
The victory made it five wins out five for the Blues and put them ahead of Liverpool, the only other side with a 100 per cent record, on goal difference.
Asked if Hazard was the best player in the Premier League, Chelsea boss Sarri didn’t just limit his answer to England.
“I thought Hazard was one of the best players in Europe, but now I changed my mind,” he said. “Maybe he is the best now.”
Worryingly for Chelsea’s top-flight rivals, Sarri added: “Hazard can improve more.
“I have spoken to him in the last two days. I told him he can score 40 goals but also to spend less energy far from the goal and play in the last 25 metres.”
Hazard was delighted with the result on the back of the international break.
He said: “The game was very tough. We know after the break it is hard to play a good game because we are a bit tired, but at the end we got three points and that’s important.
“We can play better and we should play better but it’s four goals.”
Hazard’s third came from the penalty spot after his first two had been set up by Olivier Giroud and the Belgian paid tribute to his team-mate.
He added: “Giroud is a target man and maybe the best in the world. It’s a pleasure to play with him.”
Asked if Chelsea were in the title race, Hazard laughed and said: “After only five games it’s so early to say that but we are good, we are confident.”
Cardiff are still without a win, and boss Neil Warnock said: “We have to become a bit more clever.”
Sergio Aguero has given MANCHESTER CITY a Champions League injury scare as Pep Guardiola hailed his ‘Silva service’.
Aguero limped off with a jarred ankle after making City’s third goal in their 3-0 win over FULHAM and Guardiola admitted the club’s leading scorer is a doubt for the clash with Lyon on Wednesday.
Guardiola said: “He felt something in his ankle when he jumped. He finished the first half good but was uncomfortable at the start of the second half and there was no point taking a risk with it being 3-0.
“Lyon? We will see how he is tomorrow when he wakes up.”
The City boss purred over the skills of namesakes Bernardo and David Silva.
He said Portugal international Bernardo would be at City for as long as he is manager and saluted David’s contribution to the club – the Spaniard marked his 350th appearance for City with the second goal. “It is almost impossible to be more pleased as a manager with him [Bernardo],” he said. “As long as I am here this guy will stay here because he is special.
“As for David, he has to be so proud to play 350 games. You have to be here a long time to do that, stay healthy and positive and have a good mentality. To do that in England is a big compliment to his intelligence.”
Rafa Benitez has urged the Toon Army not to panic despite NEWCASTLE equalling their worst-ever start in Premier League history.
Not since Ruud Gullit’s disastrous spell as manager 19 years ago have the Geordies picked up just one point from their opening five league games. The Dutchman was sacked in September 1999 but Benitez is convinced better times lie ahead.
Newcastle were handed the fixture list from hell with four of their opening five games against the elite and ARSENAL followed in the footsteps of Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City in winning by the same 2-1 scoreline. Benitez believes the quality of opposition has been behind the Toon’s nightmare start.
He said: “It’s a difficult time because you have to win games.
“We were not expected to win against the top sides, but each time we lost by a small margin. I’m not concerned. I know my team. I think the fans can see the picture.
“To lose in this match is something everyone could expect but still we are not happy with that for sure.’’
Rival bosses Jose Mourino and Javi Gracia were united in praise of David de Gea after his last-minute save proved a match-winner for MANCHESTER UNITED at WATFORD.
The two managers saluted the Spanish international following his superb stop at point-blank range from Christian Kabasele’s header.
The visitors were grimly hanging onto a 2-1 lead going into the dying seconds, with midfielder Nemanja Matic having been dismissed for the second of two bookable offences.
Hornets midfielder Will Hughes floated over a cross from the right and the Belgian nodded goalwards from no further than six yards out.
Somehow, de Gea palmed the ball clear, leaving Hornets’ chief Gracia scratching his head in disbelief and Mourinho thanking his lucky stars he has the Spaniard as his last line of defence.
Gracia called the stop ‘amazing’ and Mourinho lauded his number one, saying: “He had only one save to make – but it was a fantastic save.’’ FOR EVERY MATCH REPORT