EDEN HAZARD IS upset with Chelsea’s submission against Manchester City after they were flattered to lose just 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The 27-year-old did not have a shot and looked frustrated as he failed to have any impact in the game in a false nine role, with Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud both left on the bench.
Antonio Conte defended his team selection after the game, but Hazard believes the tactics were wrong.
“I wouldn’t have got a touch even if we played for three hours, even if we improved in the last 10 or 15 minutes,” the Belgium international said after the match. “We were better with the ball, but we needed to do that during the whole match.
“For me personally, it’s hard to play well if you only get the ball three times. But, when we got the ball, we had to use it better – we made the wrong choices.”
Hazard was particularly frustrated by the direct approach of the team, which he felt did not suit him.
“I was trying to jump, but it’s not easy to win duels against Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte,” he said. “We didn’t play to our strengths today. If Morata or Giroud played, it would have been easier to play with long balls. I did my best.
“Conte put me up front, I tried to do my maximum, but I don’t think we played a good match.”
The attacker believes that City compared favourably to Barcelona, who Chelsea face in the last-16 of the Champions League next week, having drawn 1-1 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
“We have had opportunities against Barcelona, but nothing at all today,” he said. “It was difficult, especially to get out of their pressing.
“If you have the ball, you immediately have three, four men on your skin. We also missed easy passes. We did not play a good game collectively, but we are going to work hard to do better next week.”
Chelsea face a battle to finish in the top four to earn their place in the Champions League next season. Their next two league games are against Crystal Palace and Tottenham at home.
They also have key Champions League and FA Cup games against Barca and Leicester in the coming weeks.
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He announced this week’s ago. Also ye are reporting today that McTominnay has declared for Scotland. That was announced last week.
I downloaded the app for up to date news, not old news I’d already heard.
@Trev Gilmore: to be fair McTominay was not called up today. But yeah, the Carrick news is old
@Dave O Keeffe: *was only called up today
@Trev Gilmore: no, he didn’t. Jose did.
Underused by England and underrated by clueless fans. A top class midfielder.
@The Bloody Nine: Agree 100% (Liverpool fan here)
@Keith Synnott: me too.
A Rolls Royce of a player.
So long Michael………it was a pleasure to watch you.
@David Sinclair: only comes out for the weddings is it?!
If I recall correctly, in LVG’S first season, Carrick was out injured in the early part of the season and United were struggling by mid November. Carrick came back from injury to help steady the ship and I think they won 8 and drew 2 of the next 10 games. He would have been 32/33 back then but he was still able to show what a good player he was to help turn United’s fortunes around. He was always unappreciated by the (non United) fans and pundits in Ireland like Giles and Dunphy, particularly on Champions League nights, because he had taken the place, and the jersey, of Roy Keane. Very underrated player, still capable of doing a job if required before he retires at end of season.
@Sloop John G: Always liked Carrick as a player Sloop John, don’t support any club he played for but he was the ultimate pro, and he played in teams where box box and scoring midfielders took the plaudits, Carrick doh knitted it all together held up play left players get into position and played the pass, sounds easy but he made it look easy not a bad medal haul either, will be missed by many football fans.
His watch is nearly ended. He did a fantastic job for the club,no messing,just got on with the job.
And he just learned to pass the ball forward. A legend though with a nice family life
A fine player who hardly ever put in a poor performance, unappreciated because he was seen as Keane’s replacement which he wasn’t and could never be.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: That’s a good one Eamonn, now why didn’t I think of that :-)