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Sports / Football

Chelsea's Hazard a matchwinner but not a leader, says Sarri

Published: 24 Jan 2019 - 09:42 am | Last Updated: 14 Nov 2021 - 07:31 pm
Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 19, 2019. AFP / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON /

Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 19, 2019. AFP / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON /

Reuters

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard is more of an "individual player" and matchwinner but must develop his leadership qualities at the Premier League club, manager Maurizio Sarri has said.

Sarri said Hazard, who led Belgium to last year's World Cup semi-finals as captain, was not a leader in the mould of team mates Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz.

"He's more an individual player than a leader. He always can win the match in two minutes, sometimes in one minute," Sarri told reporters.

"But at the moment he's not a leader. He's a great player, one of the best in the world.... you know very well that Eden is a wonderful player but he's an individual player... an instinctive player.

"I think he has to do more, because the potential is higher than the performances.

"He has to respect first of all himself."