The sheer quality the Belgium international brought as a gamechanger to the Blues meant that the Italian couldn't play to his preferred style
Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri has admitted that he struggled to field his preferred system while at Chelsea so as to be able to maximise the potential of Eden Hazard.
Speaking at his official unveiling Turin, the 60-year-old stated that he believed he was unable to play to the free-flowing 4-3-3 approach he was acclaimed for at Napoli as he felt obliged to play his talismanic striker in his preferred role.
"In recent years, I've had 4-3-3, but the 4-3-3 at Chelsea was very different to the one at Napoli," Sarri stated.
"We had to accommodate Hazard's characteristics, as he could change the game, but also his presence caused issues in defending that we had to work on."
Nesaiknruy_Legend
130
I'm not even saying this out of spite of Hazard leaving and I love him as a player but in this case Sarri is right and you're fanboying if you say otherwise. Hazard possibly has the worst work ethic of all our wingers when it comes to operating both forwards and backwards meaning tracking. I've only ever seen Hazard track maybe once or twice in a match. I can see why he would say Hazard is part of the problem defensively. Going forward he was the best player in the prem but tracking back even Willian and Pedro put in more effort and in some cases even Odoi....You may want to disagree but these are the facts. Chelsea has quite a few players who dont track and have a lazy demeanor about them every once in a while, Eden wasnt the only one but he was defo a key factor in it....
MrZeal
89
defending problems you worked on by playing Jorginho as the Defensive Midfielder. and you left after Hazard joined Madrid, you could have stayed to play your preferred 4-3-3. just excuses.
Desmondeyum
87
Sarri :Hazard cause Chelsea tactic problems Me: Sarri cigarettes would cause you heath problems
FaithEvans
82
Woow!!! Blimey!!! Sarri needs a Mesut Özil in his life, a player who has a terrible work ethic and doesn't change games, but he's earning 4 times what the coach takes home cuz he's extremely handsome and sells a lot of shirt
Dayfeed
82
Sarri himself knows if it wasn’t for hazard in leagues and unless in Europa league that hazard didn’t play any most game .. Now he said he affected Chelsea...Sarri is trying to defend himself after poor season at Chelsea and a move to juventus, when he get there also he will say Cristiano affected the defender
Cusikmpsty
80
Hazard contributes to defence more than 80% of wingers in the EPL including Salah yet Salah doesn't cause Liverpool defensive problems. Sarri didn't know how to use what he had. why won't you have defensive problems when Kante is an attacking mid. Hazard is more defensive than Rinaldo and Messi yet nobody complains
Boychan
56
I agree there, first I don't like the headlines, but deep down there is a right point, sarri doesn't like individual plays, that's what he mention, because highest risk is on the coach not players, but hazard is good in terms of individuals, he doesn't lose ball often, but if he lose, make mistakes it will be manager's risk not hazard, that's what sarri says, he wants one touch, quick passing, short fast pass football and when hazard holds the ball it's different from his style, I don't blame on hazard here,he rarely make mistakes, but sarri doesn't like that play, dribbles and such, that's what he says.i agree.
Raph10King
41
His only saying this because Hazard is the first major player he has worked with
Theezzy10
28
my points here is this, yeah hazard might not have contributed much defensive but he is surely the main key of creating most chances that lead to goal. i think is lack of contributions to the this season was probably because he already lost his will to play for cfc cause past 3 to 4 yrs now he contributed much more to the defense line for instant 2014, check his stat it was fantastic. you know high class player like hazard won't really stress their by going from an down when they are fully established, they always wait for the defense or the mid fielders to gain back possession. check on the like of neymar, messi, and ronaldo. they only fall back only when the situation is getting tough or worst.