Royal Times of Nigeria.
  • News
    • Politics
    • World
  • Opinions
    • Editorial Opinion
    • Advertorial
  • Metro
  • Lifestyle
  • Foreign
  • Sports
  • Editorial Policy
TRENDING
Kwara Govt inaugurates Councils and Boards of Agencies,...
Fayose speaks on 2023 Presidential election
Kidnapped United FC driver regains freedom
University of San Francisco appoints Nigerian provost
Since January 2020 oil prices reach highest level
Parliament passes law to make Google, Facebook pay...
PSM applauds NASS for verifying Bawa as EFCC...
Liverpool goalkeeper father found dead
JUST IN: Fire accident destroys Rivers timber market
Niger abductors threaten to starve Schoolboys to death
Olupo: AbdulRazaq leads condolence visit to Ajase-Ipo
Kwara enrols 21,000 more indigents for free healthcare,...
Bandits kill by accident – Sheikh Gumi
Nigeria’s system is a revenue-sharing system ― Dr...
Bala is not a racist , Fani-Kayode tells...

Royal Times of Nigeria.

Banner
  • News
    • Politics
    • World
  • Opinions
    • Editorial Opinion
    • Advertorial
  • Metro
  • Lifestyle
  • Foreign
  • Sports
  • Editorial Policy
NewsSports

Sarri wants more goals from hat-trick hero Hazard as Chelsea go top

written by Taiwo Adediran September 15, 2018
Sarri wants more goals from hat-trick hero Hazard as Chelsea go top

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri hailed Eden Hazard as the best player in Europe after the Belgian’s hat-trick inspired a 4-1 victory over Cardiff on Saturday to maintain the Italian coach’s perfect Premier League start.

However, Sarri believes Hazard can be even more prolific if he preserves his energy more to make the difference in the final third.

“I thought that Hazard was one of the best players in Europe. But now I change my mind because maybe he is the best,” said Sarri of the man crowned the second-best player at the World Cup this summer.

Hazard struck twice in seven minutes just before half-time to cancel out Sol Bamba’s early shock for the hosts at Stamford Bridge before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot to take his tally for the season to five goals in just three starts.

But Sarri wants his star man to spend more time closer to the opposition goal rather than dropping deep to get attacks started.

“Hazard can improve more. I think he can spend less energy than now at 50 or 60 metres from the opposition goal,” added the former Napoli boss.

“I told him… for me you can score 40 goals but you have to spend less energy. You have to play in the last 25 metres.”

Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard (C) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge in London on September 15, 2018. Glyn KIRK / AFP

And Hazard hailed the freedom Sarri’s set-up has offered him to get forward and try to improve on his best ever tally of 19 goals for a season in English football.

“(He) just wants us to play and to find space between the lines so then Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Cesc Fabregas can find us,” said Hazard.

“We have a lot of freedom on the pitch, and at the moment when we try and do something, it’s coming off.”

– Unlikely title challenge –
Chelsea rebuffed interest from European champions Real Madrid for Hazard after the player himself declared an interest in moving on after the World Cup.

And that resilience could yet yield an unlikely title challenge after finishing 30 points adrift of Manchester City last season.

Willian’s sumptuous strike for Chelsea’s fourth edged the Blues ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table on goal difference with City just two points further back.

But Sarri insists last season’s champions and Champions League finalists remain the benchmark for his side.

“My target is to be the best team in England, but not in one month. Maybe one season, maybe a little more but our target is this.

“At the moment, for me, in my opinion, Liverpool and Manchester City are better than us.”

The feeling of being outclassed is one Cardiff may become accustomed to, having failed to significantly strengthen over the summer on their return to the top flight.

Neil Warnock’s men have picked up just two points in 0-0 draws with a man advantage against Newcastle and Huddersfield from their opening five games.

“We have got to learn quickly because these top teams punish you,” said Warnock.

Cardiff couldn’t have asked for a better start when a well-worked Joe Ralls free-kick was headed across goal by Sean Morrison and bundled in at the back post by Bamba.

However, they had no answer to Hazard’s trickery as he dummied a ball into the path of Olivier Giroud and then fired the Frenchman’s return pass low into the far corner.

Hazard had the help of a deflection to put Chelsea in front from close range and gave the home side breathing space from the spot after Willian was felled by Bamba.

Moments later Willian capped the rout with his own moment of magic with a wonderful curling effort from 20 yards that bent into the top corner.

Join our twitter community :

Follow @royaltimesng
0 comment
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Taiwo Adediran

previous post
PDP calls for immediate arrest, prosecution of Adeosun
next post
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida assures Saraki on his presidential ambition

You may also like

Telecom operators warns of network disruptions after Federal...

November 9, 2019

PDP chieftain, Diekola, collapses in court

October 10, 2018

Easter: Adebayo felicitates with Christians, admonishes all to...

April 20, 2019

Tuface to donate 60% of song proceed to...

June 12, 2017

APC opens new Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube handles

April 16, 2018

Arsenal end Liverpool pursuit of Premier league point...

July 16, 2020

Xenophobic Attacks:Mob burns MTN office in Ibadan

September 4, 2019

Savings from Nigeria’s oil cannot fund 20% of...

July 18, 2017

Sad Pope dishes orders to crisis-ridden Diocese of...

June 12, 2017

UI advises 408 students to withdraw

April 25, 2018

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Facebook
  • Elon Musk toppled as world richest man, loses $15 billion

    February 23, 2021
  • Davido named among world most influential people by TIME Magazine

    February 18, 2021
  • Why I married Tonto Dikeh’s ex-husband – Rosy Meurer

    February 18, 2021
  • Tessica Brown to donate $20K of Her GoFundMe Money to reconstructive surgery Organization

    February 16, 2021
  • Nigerian gospel singer Sinach releases new single ‘Greatest Lord’

    February 15, 2021
  • Kidnapped United FC driver regains freedom

    February 25, 2021
  • Liverpool goalkeeper father found dead

    February 25, 2021
  • Osimhen rejoins Napoli teammates after head trauma

    February 23, 2021
  • Osaka ends Serena’s 24th Grand Slam quest

    February 18, 2021
  • COVID-19;Bayern’s Pavard tests positive

    February 18, 2021
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • News
    • Politics
    • World
  • Opinions
    • Editorial Opinion
    • Advertorial
  • Metro
  • Lifestyle
  • Foreign
  • Sports
  • Editorial Policy

@2017 -Royaltimes of Nigeria. All Right Reserved.