Chelsea boss Sarri backs Eden Hazard to score 40 goals after Cardiff hat-trick

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

Maurizio Sarri has tipped Eden Hazard to score 40 goals for Chelsea this season.

Belgium playmaker Hazard bagged a fine hat-trick as Chelsea thumped Cardiff 4-1 at Stamford Bridge, to move top of the Premier League on goal difference.

New boss Sarri became just the fourth man to win his first five matches in the Premier League, as the Blues extended their 100 per cent record in style.

You can keep this one, @hazardeden10 😉 pic.twitter.com/8aVcjRfgQJ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2018

Italian Sarri then revealed he told Hazard on Friday that he can boost his goal return considerably – by focusing on operating solely in the final third.

“Yesterday I said to him that for me you can score 40 goals,” said Sarri of Hazard.

“But you have to spend less energy far from goal and you have to play in the last 25 metres of the field.

“I think that he can spend less energy than he does now at 50 to 60 metres from the opposite goal.

“In these actions I think he spends a lot of energy, and he can have more energy in the last 25 metres.”

Hazard’s top return for Chelsea to date is the 18 goals scored in the 2016/17 campaign, with 16 of those coming in the Premier League.

But Sarri believes the 27-year-old has the chance to boost his goal return out of sight – and become the best player in Europe at the same time.

“When I arrived I thought that Hazard was one of the best players in Europe,” said Sarri.

Great performance from the whole team! @hazardeden10 on 🔥👏🏼 #CHECAR #PL @ChelseaFC
Gran partido de todo el equipo! @hazardeden10 🔝👏🏼 #CHECAR #PL @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/y8UwBUlrXb
— Marcos Alonso (@marcosalonso03) September 15, 2018

“Now I have changed my mind: maybe he is the best. But I also think he can still improve more.”

Cardiff shocked Chelsea by sneaking an early lead courtesy of Sol Bamba’s smart flicked finish from a set-piece ruse.

Olivier Giroud laid on two goals in seven minutes for Hazard, though, who conjured a devastatingly clinical performance.

Hazard then converted a penalty with 10 minutes to play, before Willian blasted a fine fourth for the Blues.

View this post on Instagram
The Prince of The Bridge @hazardeden_10 🤷🏾‍♂️😍⚽⚽⚽ @chelseafc
A post shared by didierdrogba (@didierdrogba) on Sep 15, 2018 at 9:16am PDT

Chelsea’s win moved them top of the table ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, with Jurgen Klopp’s men also winning their opening five matches.

Despite Chelsea quickly finding their feet under Sarri, the former Napoli boss continues to maintain that Liverpool and Manchester City are the title favourites.

Asked if he would revise that view after Chelsea’s latest win, Sarri replied: “No. I cannot change my mind from one match.

“I think that in this moment Liverpool and Manchester City are in another step. But I think that we can improve.

“My target is to be the best team in England, but not in one month of course.

“Maybe one season, maybe a little more. But our target is this.

“But at the moment, I repeat, for me, in my opinion, Liverpool and Manchester City are better than us.”

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock heralded the “unplayable” Hazard but insisted his side ought to have cut out at least two of Chelsea’s goals.

Chelsea boss Sarri backs Eden Hazard to score 40 goals after Cardiff hat-trick — Sol Bamba put Cardiff in front (Daniel Hambury/PA)

“He’s a good player, isn’t he? But that’s what you’re going to get when you play the top teams – he’s unplayable at times,” said Warnock when asked about Hazard.

“I thought we were in the game for 80 minutes, but again I’m really disappointed with the goals we conceded.

“It’s not Chelsea’s ability. Joe (Bennett) should have won that tackle, and Bobby Reid, it’s never a free-kick.

Thank you for all the support and travelling supporters today. Great voices throughout the game! Massive shame about the result but once again some real positives from the game against a very good Chelsea side. #football #goalkeeper #bluebirds #cardiff #chelsea pic.twitter.com/GECaWz8Ljb
— Neil Etheridge (@Neil38Etheridge) September 15, 2018

“And the penalty, I knew it was going to be a penalty 15 yards before the tackle.

“I thought Willian’s too quick and Sol (Bamba) would go and tackle, not hold, especially at that stage when he was tired.

“It was his only mistake though. I thought he had a good game otherwise.”