Maurizio Sarri has followed other Chelsea managers in setting the standard for Eden Hazard to become legendary. Will this finally be the right path?
Eden Hazard is something of an enigma and always has been. It always feels as though he is on the cusp of breaking into the “best in the world” category but he always falls just short.
Every manager Hazard has played under since coming to Chelsea has had a different take on what Hazard is missing and how to get the best out of him. Jose Mourinho felt like it was tracking back and supporting the team from wide. Antonio Conte, despite popular belief, is perhaps the manager to have most taken the reigns off of Hazard. But too much freedom was also not the answer as it had a negative effect on the rest of the team. Even Hazard’s current national team manager, Roberto Martinez, has looked for a solution by giving Hazard the armband and building the side around him.
Maurizio Sarri’s take on things is to put Hazard into the system he has used for years now. Hazard does not have total freedom (though he does have a lot) but he also is nearly void of defensive responsibility (though he does need to press from the front). Sarri is looking to make Hazard a success within his tactics as opposed to bending his tactics around Hazard.
This has seen Hazard start the season in truly incredible form. But it is not perfect yet. Sarri believes that Hazard’s insistence to drop deep and central is holding him back and wasting energy. If Hazard stays up top, Sarri believes he can have a 40 goal season.
Sarri is but the latest manager in a long line to lay down a marker for Hazard. If he does X, then he will be able to do Y and become legendary. And while Hazard has improved as a player under each manager, it never has seemed to be enough to cross the threshold.
It appears the way to make it happen is to toe the fine line between total freedom and adherence to the system. Luckily for the Belgian, Sarri’s tactics are perhaps the best ones yet to help him find and stay on that line where he needs to be. Hazard has freedom, but not total freedom. If he uses his ability and allowance to roam within the tactics, then he can break through. If he pushes or steps over the line, it hurts the team.
Improvements have already been seen in the Premier League fixtures. Against Newcastle, Hazard was almost constantly deep and central trying to get involved. Against Bournemouth, his teammates coped better when he did that and Hazard was smarter in his decisions to come central. And against Cardiff, Hazard only came deep and central at the start. After a few minutes, he began to trust the midfield and he stayed higher where he could not only save energy but be more dangerous as he did so.
Sarri is not the first to say what Hazard needs to do to reach the next level. He may not even be the last. But this is perhaps the best set of circumstances for Hazard to do so. Until now, Hazard has done well without fully following Sarri’s orders and desires. Once he does, it may not be surprising to see Hazard on stage during the Ballon D’Or ceremony in the near future.