The Chelsea boss is happy with his star man.
Just under two weeks ago, Chelsea FC superstar Eden Hazard was dropped to the bench for the club’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa. A 2-0 win ensued while Jose Mourinho criticised the Belgian’s work-rate in his post match comments.
He was subsequently reinstated for the Dynamo Kiev stalemate and put in his best performance of the 2015/16 campaign. Unfortunately, in the two matches that have followed, Hazard has become largely anonymous again but Mourinho insists that he is happy with the player’s recent form.
"He tried everything in the last game, he had a positive game, he played for two hours – I am happy with his performance against Stoke. I was happy with his performance against Dynamo Kiev. Before that he was on the bench obviously because I was not happy and I felt it was the best thing for him. I am happy with his positive reaction to that."
While the Blues boss may be pleased with Hazard’s performances since the international break, many fans would be inclined to disagree. One good period of 90 minutes has broken up a season of utter mediocrity. The team may have performed well against Stoke City, but they were still lacking one player to grab the game by scruff of its neck and covert some chances.
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Last season, it would have been Hazard. This season, well, there’s no-one.
Nevertheless, Saturday is yet another massive fixture for the Blues as they welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to Stamford Bridge; the team will need to muster all sorts of positivity if they are to get a result.
With the Reds’ recent managerial change, they look refreshed and more defensively sound under Klopp. The Chelsea boss, though, claimed that there are few differences between the current Merseyside outfit and the one that Brendan Rodgers left behind.
"They were a good team, they are a good team. They had good players, they have good players. They had a very good manager, they have a new very good manager. Everything is the same."
If you were to consider the bare-bones of it, Mourinho is not wrong. However, he does admit the slight tactical tweaks that he will be preparing for.
"They have changed some details obviously in their tactical approach…there is just a little bit of difference about the way they think about football."
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While Liverpool have been undefeated since Klopp’s arrival, they have drawn three out of the four games. Having said that, the main area of concern for Reds fans has been the leaky defence, but this has looked decidedly more solid over the last couple of weeks.
Chelsea will enter this contest with more at stake. Sitting in 15th position, the club are already under huge pressure to get a result and playing in front of a resolute, although tried, Stamford Bridge crowd will only add to the weight.
At this point, no-one will be able to tell you which way this game is going.
All quotes taken from chelseafc.com.
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