Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri may not have done his side any favors by calling Eden Hazard an ‘individual player’ when quizzed about the leaders in his team.
The Belgium international is keen to leave Stamford Bridge next summer and has spoken of this intention a number of times since the start of the season, and his manager’s comments might be a signal that not all is well between the two at the club.
The Italian coach has called on Hazard to fill the void at the lead attacker through the middle a number of times this season after Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud failed to score the goals required to make Chelsea a fearsome side in the Premier League.
Hazard though has scored 12 goals and registered 10 assists in 28 games this season, making him the most lethal attacker in Sarri’s side. However, he is not a leader in the dressing room according to the former Napoli coach.
“As Azpilicueta, David Luiz… so I think they can help all the other players to get the right mentality. I don’t know [if Hazard is one] in this moment… In this moment, he’s more an individual player than a leader.
He is very important for us, of course, because he is a great player. He always can win the match in two minutes. Sometimes in one minute. But, at the moment, he’s not a leader. He’s a great player. One of the best in the world.”
Maurizio Sarri, Football London
