Maurizio Sarri confirms who will start up front for Chelsea in the future

Maurizio Sarri has hinted that he will continue to use Eden Hazard in the false nine role. 

The Belgian international is usually more accustomed to being deployed in wide areas, drifting inside to link with teammates or get a shot at goal.

Will Eden Hazard remain in the false nine role? Five key things to know…

1. Usually a winger, Hazard has scored nearly 100 goals for Chelsea since moving to the club in 2012.
2. He started the season in fine form but went on a seven-game goal drought, dating back to October.
3. Sarri deployed Hazard as a false nine in the 2-0 win over Man City recently, with Hazard assisting both goals.
4. The Belgian ended his goal drought on Sunday in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Brighton, also providing another assist.
5. Sarri thinks Hazard could remain “very important” in this role, but needs to “improve in attacking the box”.

In recent games against Manchester City and Brighton, Sarri has moved Hazard into a central role, with the 27-year-old providing three assists across the two games and scoring his first league goal since October on Sunday.

And the Italian has hinted toward keeping Hazard in that position.

“For us, he [Hazard] could be very important in this position. He is able to come deep and play with his team-mates. He is able to create spaces,” Sarri said in a press conference, according to Standard Sport.

“Now in that position, he has to improve in attacking the box.”

Hazard limped off the pitch in the 83rd minute of Chelsea’s 2-1 win over the Seagulls on Sunday after being caught on the ankle by Dale Stephens.

But Sarri has played down the injury and insisted Hazard just needs to rest.

“Eden is okay,” he added. “It’s only a knock. I spoke with the doctor and he told me it’s not a big problem. Maybe one or two days to rest.”

Chelsea’s next game is a League Cup quarter-final clash with Bournemouth on Wednesday evening.

READ MORE: Brighton 1-2 Chelsea: The major winners and losers as Hazard stars in false No.9 role

Will Eden Hazard remain at Chelsea beyond this season?

Eden Hazard is widely regarded as Chelsea’s most important player, and he has been for some years now.

The former Lille man has scored 98 goals in 319 games since joining the club in 2012, winning five major honours in the process.

However, his form for the Blues, as well as for Belgium at the World Cup over the summer, has led to constant speculation around his future at the club.

Only two players in Europe’s top five leagues have registered 8+ goals and 8+ assists:

Eden Hazard: 8 goals, 9 assists
Lionel Messi: 11 goals, 8 assists

The No.10’s doing bits. pic.twitter.com/SHQGtplJdB

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 16, 2018

Real Madrid have been the club most often touted with a move for Hazard, but in October, Maurizio Sarri insisted he will remain in London at least until the end of his contract in 2020.

But Hazard, never one to hide his feelings, recently spoke of how he didn’t want to end his career with regrets, and that he has a “decision to make” soon.

When asked about his future, he said: “The family is in London, I’m also going to be 28. I do not want to have any regrets at the end of my career.

“It’s a decision I’m going to make, I do not know when, but I’ll make it.

“As I said, I’m already finishing this year with Chelsea, I still have a year of contract after this year.”

The post Sarri hints Hazard will continue as Chelsea’s false No.9 appeared first on Squawka News.

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