Eden Hazard - Wants to play as our number ten. Your thoughts?
Reading post match comments from Eden Hazard that he expressed a desire to Jose Mourinho to be deployed as our number ten. I am wondering...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2015/11/eden-hazard-wants-to-play-as-our-number.html
Reading post match comments from Eden Hazard that he expressed a desire to Jose Mourinho to be deployed as our number ten. I am wondering if you feel he is better in that position? I Will be honest, I have my reservations and feel that we cannot afford to play him there in the "bigger" games.
Hazard said:
“We spoke together before the Stoke [Capital One Cup] game. I said to him ‘Maybe we have to try something, to change something. Maybe I have to play at No10 because we have to try’. We did and I played a very good game in the cup in Stoke. And, against Norwich, it was the same. I don't know if I have to play every game as a No10. I just want to play.
I like playing No10, but I'll play as a left winger too. I just want to be on the pitch. It doesn't matter whether that's in the middle or on the flanks. It doesn't matter.
When I was young I played as a No10. Sometimes there is more freedom there. Sometimes not. When you play against compact teams, like Norwich, it's difficult to find space. But we have good players and they know how to move and when to pass the ball."
Let me explain my reasoning. Look at Norwich this weekend and Hazards performance, he was outstanding because Norwich adopted a sit deep policy and allowed Chelsea to have the ball therefore dominate the game. They didn't play a high pressing game and as a result, Hazard was able to roam around the pitch popping up in different positions. He was given time to collect the ball, turn and run with it.
However, look at where he was more dangerous and you will see that its when he appeared out wide, took on his defender (or two), got to the byline and played fantastic balls across the box which no-one got themselves on the end of!
Let me now take you back to Liverpool at home. Juergen Klopp adopted a high press policy in that game and Hazard struggled to do anything. Every time he was played the ball with his back to goal he was closed down immediately and lost the ball or was forced backwards. He struggled to get involved in the game and to influence it as he could have done from playing wide.
We want Eden Hazard played the ball in a position where he can turn, eyeball his defender and go and beat him. That's where he is at his best and most influential in games, that's why he won he personal awards he did last season, not by playing as a number ten.
What do you people think? Do you agree with Eden Hazard or do you agree with me?
JM is not known for giving players freedom on the pitch but it seems likely that it's the best way to get maximum effectiveness from Hazard. So, IMO the no.10 role is ideal for him. The three behind the striker tend to interchange in any case.
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