'Eden Hazard is not a leader... he's an individual player': Maurizio Sarri aims dig at his star man as Chelsea boss reveals Real Madrid target is yet to make his mind up on long-term future
Maurizio Sarri chose the day when Gonzalo Higuain completed his loan move from Juventus to demand more from Eden Hazard and reveal Alvaro Morata has asked to leave Chelsea.
The pressure is on Higuain to solve three problems in one swoop at Stamford Bridge: score goals for a shot-shy team, free Morata from his personal strife and reignite the mercurial Hazard as he flirts with a move to Real Madrid.
When asked about Hazard, who scored eight goals in his first 10 games of the season but has only four in his last 18 and none since Boxing Day, Sarri said: 'He has to do more, because the potential is higher than the performances.'
The Belgian has been used increasingly as a centre forward despite making it clear he prefers to play wide.
'Eden is a wonderful player,' said Sarri. 'But he is an individual player, an instinctive player. For him, it is very difficult to play only in one position.
'He likes to go to the ball, in the direction of the ball, he wants the ball at his feet. So it is very difficult for him to play as a striker, but also as a winger. We have to organise the other 10 players in the defensive phase because he needs to play everywhere on the pitch.
'He is very important for us, of course, because he is a great player. He can win the match in a minute or two but he is not a leader, he is a great player; one of the best in the world.'
Hazard confessed this week in an interview with France Football that he 'frustrated' all his coaches. 'I prefer him when he speaks with his feet,' quipped Sarri, who went public with his criticism of his team after Saturday's defeat at Arsenal.
Higuain has not signed in time to play against Spurs and Morata, the club's £68million record signing who is negotiating a move to Atletico Madrid, is ruled out with a minor calf injury.
'Morata is a very good player,' said Sarri. 'He has the characteristics for playing in my team. But Morata, one month ago, said he wanted to play in another team. So it was really very difficult for him to give us 100 per cent. We needed to change.'
Hazard will be deployed again at centre forward unless Olivier Giroud is recalled for his first start in 2019 as Chelsea attempt to solve their goal problems, having scored only seven in eight games.
Higuain should be available against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Sunday.
