Chelsea News: Sarri and Hazard seek tactical compromise – Zola

Chelsea badistant Gianfranco Zola admits that Eden Hazard and manager Maurizio Sarri have to work together to reach a compromise on his role in the Italian system.

Sarri admitted that Hazard was one of the players in the group who had stopped playing after his team triumphed in Thursday's win over Tottenham in the penalty shootout, winning a place in the final of the competition.

Hazard's privileged position is the left wing, but he has been used as a central striker in recent weeks while Alvaro Morata is expected to be transferred to Atletico Madrid and Olivier Giroud. stays more and more on the bench.

Zola revealed that the duo is working on a compromise to leave Hazard free of any space to attack, but also instills the discipline necessary to implement the new system of his manager, called "Sarriball".

"I looked a lot like Eden," Zola said before the FA Cup clash with Sheffield on Wednesday.

"I was a very positive player, I liked to move on the field, find places on the field where I could get the ball, turn around and do damage to the opponent.

"I was very very similar and I understand it.I think we try to give it to him, but also to form a team organized in a defensive and offensive way.More offensive.This is why we sometimes ask to Eden to work hard.

"I know this is not his best quality.We understand that he sometimes has to be cool when he receives the balloon.There is no doubt that we are on the same page.We want to find a common ground that allows them to make the most of it. " of himself and the team can take advantage of it.

"Not only when he scores goals, but when we have moments in the game where we need to defend everyone and support everyone, that's exactly what we're trying to do." Eden, I think I have to be fair, I do it.

"We are very demanding because we want to do it all the time. I am sure we will find a compromise. I am not able to criticize a player like Eden. We believe, said Maurizio, that Hazard's potential is superior to performance.

"So he does not criticize what Eden is doing but he thinks he can do a lot more for himself and for the team, that's all he says. situation that he wants Hazard to understand … Once again, when we see his performance, we look forward to seeing more and more. "

Sarri had also called Hazard for not having realized all his potential before the shock of Thursday's semifinal, but the 28-year-old answered the call.

Like Hazard, Zola has had a creative influence on Chelsea in his playing career and is widely regarded as one of the club's greatest players. He observed at Stamford Bridge the return of Hazard left with Giroud at the attacking position. He admits that having this pivot helps small creative players.

"It was a lot like the first time I came here," added Zola. "I had Mark Hughes or Luca Vialli who, when I could play them, was much better because it would give me space and freedom. I would use their physique to get the spaces I wanted and we played fantastically to understand for Eden.

"He has a very good understanding with Giroud that we saw yesterday, Olivier had a fantastic match in my opinion and I'm sure he will get the same understanding with Gonzalo Higuain."

Higuain may well make his debut in the FA Cup this weekend and Chelsea have already released the match after defeating their rivals after defeating their rivals to qualify for the Carabao Cup final with Manchester City on Feb. 24.

Sarri's methods with Chelsea have been scrutinized, especially for his use of players like Hazard and Nol Golo Kante in positions that may not be the strongest.

Zola says that Sarri hears some of the noise coming from outside Chelsea, but tries to balance his need for adaptation with his own style of manager.

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"We know what the game is about," said Zola. "Maurizio has his temperament and his character, but he's a very intelligent man, I think his intelligence is superior to his temperament, he's learning, he's trying to keep his personality.

"It fits the situation, I understand that Chelsea is a team that has high expectations from the fans, the media and the owners, so we have to respond to it, when you lose a game like against Arsenal, there is always something to do on.

"You have to accept the criticism and we accept it and we improve the situations.Anyway, in a way as strong as Maurizio was after the match against Arsenal, he criticized some things." But, as I l ​​& # 39; I said, sometimes the reaction means that you care and want to be on top.