Chelsea: Eden Hazard needs more reason to stay than just “fun” with Sarrismo

Chelsea are finally playing beautiful football, something these Blues have not done before. Although every player enjoys Maurizio Sarri’s system, Sarrismo won’t be enough to make Hazard stay.

A hot topic for the past year or so has been whether Eden Hazard will stay at Chelsea or leave to Real Madrid. While Hazard has been very polite and fair with his answer, at this point in his career, there isn’t much that can tempt the super star to stay with the Blues. Not even finally playing the style of football he wanted for so long will be nearly enough to make him sign a new contract.

With all the controversy of Antonio Conte and how he lost the dressing room, even after winning the Premier League in year one and the FA Cup in year two, things at Chelsea did not look too well. All the happiness and joy those two trophies brought quickly turned sour. Even Eden Hazard, a player who tends to stay away from the cameras and seldom makes negative comments, was not too happy with Conte’s style of play or treatment of his teammates. Granted, this was surely influenced by the team-mates themselves.

Fast-forward six weeks or so after winning the FA Cup. Antonio Conte was out and Maurizio Sarri was in. A man known for his fast-paced, high pressure and entertaining football philosophy: Sarriball or Sarrismo (or neither, as my colleague Kevin Peacock disdains both). With that managerial switch, everything changed. Those who publicly manifested their dislike for Conte and allegedly turned the dressing room were happy once more. David Luiz was starting games, Willian was a manager-favorite and the team was playing with the ball rather than without it.

This obviously made Eden Hazard happy. Considering the type of player he is, a Barcelona-like mentality at Chelsea was just what he was asking for. Keeping the ball, passing quickly and enjoying the game as it should be played. In other words, having fun.

But now, surely he is realizing that playing pretty football is not enough. And, ultimately, it won’t be enough for him to stay.

Maurizio Sarri just suffered a loss against Leicester City, not long after winning against Premier League rivals, Manchester City. Moments like these can make anyone wonder if Sarrismo is as good as they say. Chelsea had most of the ball, had plenty of chances and even hit the woodwork twice against the Foxes. Yet the team was unable to score, and lost the match.

Yes, this is Sarri’s first season, and a couple of additions to the team for the next campaign can make Chelsea champions again. But is dropping points, waiting for next season to win something, and always expecting the manager to be sacked the mentality a superstar wants a team to have? Simply, no.

The main reason Eden Hazard will choose Real Madrid is the team’s mentality and the club’s philosophy. He won’t stay just to be part of Sarrismo. Although it can be argued Chelsea have given everything to Hazard, now including the style of play he has always wanted, Hazard has ambitions and he is not realizing them with the current manager. Not after losing so many games, and not while struggling to win many others.

As a perfect example of the mentality gap, Chelsea should not be settling for top four in the Premier League. In the words of Antonio Rudiger after the Leicester defeat, it is “stupid.” Sarri has a great squad in his hands. But because he is so fixated on his Sarrismo, and toils under the notion that without Jorginho running the show the team cannot play, Chelsea are no longer title contenders.

Furthermore, keeping certain toxic players in the team and giving them an important role, instead of cutting them and starting fresh, will become the sword he placed just so he could fall on it.

When it comes to the club’s mentality, if one looks at some of the players around Hazard, it is hard to argue with him wanting to leave. Willian and Pedro are not up to par and aren’t proving anything for the team. Alvaro Morata who, well, it’s hard to say what he has done besides stay on the ground complaining to the referee. Olivier Giroud, who despite his connection with Hazard, is reaching a dangerous age. And in defense the Blues have David Luiz, who, very strangely, doesn’t know how to defend. These are key factors that make a star like the Belgian look at other clubs.

At this time when Hazard is looking at a possible move, the Blues should be winning more games and have some level of consistent play from a stable locker room. Hazard surely wants results for all the hard work he is doing. Winning the title this season and qualifying for the next Champions League could have been enough to make him stay. But now he will have to settle for a cup and possibly the Europa League.

Judging by the way things are going, how the manager’s tactics are not working well and some players clearly cannot perform, Hazard’s only other option is settling for the “we played pretty ball this season” consolation. No one wants that, especially not him.