Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has quickly moved from playing with a recognized striker, as he makes plans with Eden Hazard in the false-nine role. Although he has said he doesn’t want to stick with this plan B, the form of his main strikers will give reason to the continuous role of Hazard in his less favoured spot.
The Belgian attacker had in the past questioned his coach’s plan to play him in the false-nine role but has been relatively quiet under Maurizio Sarri who has employed the same tactic with a varying approach. Previously the ball will be played long to him to chase down as a target man, but now Hazard can feel free to get in on the attacking play and double up as the main outlet for the goals as well.
In the last four games where Hazard has relegated Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata to the bench, he has scored three goals. The return is decent but the Blues could have had more had a more natural striker led the line.
When the knockout phase of the Europa League begins the stakes will be higher and the opponents will grow stronger. The Carabao Cup two-legged tie with Tottenham Hotspur lies in wait while the FA Cup’s tricky ties will attempt to expose Sarri’s new found love more.
There are rumors in Italy via Calciomercato that a swap deal involving Morata and Giroud could see both players move in opposite directions in the January transfer window. Whether that report is true or not, Chelsea must find a capable pair of legs to trust to lead their attack or risk playing the remaining season with fewer and fewer goals.
