adminCOBHAM. — Jose Mourinho has criticised Eden Hazard by claiming the Chelsea winger is not yet ready to sacrifice himself fully for the sake of his team.
Hazard, a reported summer target for Paris Saint-Germain, was apparently critical of Mourinho’s tactics during this week’s 3-1 Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat by Atletico Madrid that denied Chelsea a place in the final.
Quizzed about his player’s comments yesterday, the Chelsea manager insisted Hazard’s words had been taken out of context.
“There was nothing critical in what he said,” Mourinho told reporters at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, south of London, yesterday.
“It’s the same type of words he said in relation to the Belgium side a few weeks ago.”
But Mourinho then highlighted the mistake made by Hazard for Atletico’s opening goal — the Belgium international was caught out at the far post — as an example of a weakness that remains in the player’s game. The error contributed to Adrian’s equaliser that cancelled out Fernando Torres’ opening goal immediately before half-time at Stamford Bridge, laying the platform for Atletico to secure victory after the break.
“Normally you get this kind of comment from players like him: from players who can’t resolve a problem like we had with the first goal,” the Portuguese boss went on. Against Atletico in Madrid, Willian played on the left side and Ashley Cole was protected all game. Against Liverpool, Andre Schuerrle played on the left and a dangerous player like Glen Johnson was completely under control.
“Eden is the kind of player who is not so mentally ready to look back at his left-back and live his life for him.” — AFP.
Online Reporter