Transfer Centre

Eden Hazard hints at Chelsea stay

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 09 February 2019

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard hints that he may be tempted into remaining at Stamford Bridge by revealing that he likes to play football in the same way as Maurizio Sarri.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has revealed that both he and Maurizio Sarri 'think the same way about football', suggesting that he may be happy to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard has spent the last six-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge, but the playmaker has been heavily linked with a switch to Real Madrid with less than 18 months remaining on his contract.

However, the Belgium international has indicated that he enjoys playing under current Blues head coach Sarri, who is known to favour playing possession football.

Hazard told The Times: "The manager likes possession! He's a lot about statistics. Numbers. Possession. Shooting. Goal opportunity. In the past we used to play more counter-attack. It is different with Sarri than with [Antonio] Conte and [Jose] Mourinho.

"Sometimes we keep possession, and I understand the fans want us to go forward, but it is part of the football. We are still learning about his concept. We are doing well. I like this kind of football.

"Sarri is a great manager. He's an old man [60, meaning experienced] but the way he thinks is the same way I think about football."

Hazard has contributed 12 goals and 10 assists in 24 Premier League appearances this season.