Chelsea

Eden Hazard: 'Maurizio Sarri is the best manager of my Chelsea stay'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 08 October 2018

Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard claims that Maurizio Sarri is the best manager he has had during his time at the club, ahead of the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has claimed that Maurizio Sarri is the best manager he has played under during his time at the club.

Sarri is the sixth manager Hazard has had during his six years at Stamford Bridge, and he has made a positive start to his reign with Chelsea still unbeaten this season and level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.

The Belgian won the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte for Chelsea - in addition to featuring under Roberto Di Matteo, Rafael Benitez and Guus Hiddink - but he believes that Sarri's style of play trumps them all.

"I think he is a great manager. When you play football, you want to play for these kinds of managers because the way he wants us to play is the way that I want to play," Hazard told reporters.

"We had some great results in the past so I can't say that the managers before weren't good, but I think in terms of football and the way we are playing, yes, this is the best football since I have been at Chelsea. A lot of pass and move. Then we also have good players in our team so that's why we are playing this great football.

"So I am just thinking about this season. I want to win something with him and then we will think about what happens at the end of the season but now, in my head, it is just play and enjoy football then try to win the games. [Sarri] is very good. He is talking a lot with the players. He is joking a lot. When you see him, maybe you think he is a bit focused on the game but he can make some jokes. I think we need that.

"He is a funny guy but he likes to work. When it is time to enjoy, then he wants us to enjoy. When he is talking about football, the first thing he says is let's make you enjoy. That's good. What might make me stay? I am happy and I don't need anything. It is not trophies. Of course, when you play, you want to win but I just want to enjoy things on the pitch, like I am at the moment. Then I am happy."

Hazard has scored eight goals in just 10 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season.