Eden Hazard: Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri hammered by talkSPORT hosts for saying star is not a leader
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been heavily criticised on talkSPORT for saying star man Eden Hazard is not a leader in his latest public outburst.The Italian, who openly slammed his sides attitude and mentality following last weekends 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, has grabbed the headlines again with his comments about the Belgian ace.Sarri has surprised everyone with his honest assessment of Eden Hazard2
Sarri has surprised everyone with his honest assessment of Eden Hazard
Ahead of Thursdays EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham, Sarri admitted he was unsure of Hazards future at Stamford Bridge, and branded the star forward more an individual player than a leader.Hazard has scored 12 goals and registered ten assists this season, but Sarri wants him to contribute more.Asked if the 28-year-old frustrates him, Sarri said on Wednesday afternoon: Sometimes! I prefer him when he speaks with his feet.He is more an individual player than a leader. He is very important of course because hes a great player.He can win the match in two minutes, sometimes one, but at the moment he is not a leader.Eden Hazard has been challenged to play even better for Chelsea2
Eden Hazard has been challenged to play even better for Chelsea
And the managers comments did not go down well on Thursday morningAlly McCoist told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: You just wonder if some of it has been lost in translation.He was trying to get himself out of a hole by saying hes not a leader but hes an absolutely terrific player, which he is.But I would disagree, because if you look at their side over the last few months Hazard has been the shining light.Its very strange. His comments are very strange and the timing of his comments before such an important game, the second leg of the semi-final, is even more strange.Hes certainly ruffling a few feathers in the dressing room, theres no doubt about that. Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders later told Jim White that Sarri is playing a dangerous game by criticising his players in public.I can see what hes maybe thinking, hes trying to get something out of him tonight, he said.Years ago, if he had said that to me in private I would have said, well Ill show you I am.It would be an insult but sometimes the insult can gee you on and make you play a bit better. But I think its a dangerous game.Hazard thinks he is a leader. He thinks he is the best player in the world, thats why he is so good, he has to think that way to play with so much self-belief.You cant criticise your best players any more, those days have gone, youve more or less got to be his friend.Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips made his debut in the Sports Breakfast co-host chair, and he told Alan Brazil the decision to publicly criticise Hazard could either be a stroke of genius from Sarri or a very big mistake.It will be interesting to see how Hazard responds. Will he have a sulk on or will he roll his sleeves and say, Ill show you whos a leader?History suggests, certainly at Chelsea, that once you start publicly criticising your players it only ends one way and to do it to your best player, and one of the best in the world, its very bizarre.If Hazard has a world class game, turns the tie around and wins it for Chelsea, everyone is going to say Sarri is a genius. But, if he doesnt, everyone is going to be on his back even more.
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