He may have had his best season to date but that doesn't necessarily mean it was near his full potential.

Hazard doesn't get enough time on the ball in attacking areas in any system at Chelsea he's played in, to date.Mourinho's is no exception.

Apart from Willian you would have to admit almost all our players have been poor-to-average for most of the season.

 

Why Hazard has been singled out I don't understand.

Edited October 17, 201510 yr by coco

Can't afford passengers given our current form, don't think Hazard can have too many grumbles for not starting today.

Matic's been dropped, Terry's been dropped, Cahill, Oscar, Pedro, I don't think it's a big deal that Hazard has had similar treatment, obviously the comments regarding his defensive contribution rake up memories of Mata but we have seen what happened when Mata tried to play to Jose's style and it didn't do his game too may favours...Eden on the other hand was the stand out player in the league last year doing a fair job of it.

 

He doesn't look as fit as he did and maybe hasn't been training as hard or maybe it's still down to the poor preseason but there are players competing hard for the places in attacking midfield so it's only fair they get chances, Pedro wasn't great today either and I'd be more worried why Oscar isn't getting in especially if we are to see more of Ruben, I don't think Fabregas should be ahead of Oscar further forward.

 

I expect Hazard to train hard and set out to impress on Jose that he is one of the most important players in the team, it's really up to him to do that and if he's as good potentially as we all think, he will do it.

Can't afford passengers given our current form, don't think Hazard can have too many grumbles for not starting today.

If he had said that, fine. Why say all these about workrate and defending now?. He was waxing lyrical about all of last season. He was very influential in our league win for God's sake. There are just some players don't have massive workrate. He should have kept in in-house imo. Why tell the media that?

Matic's been dropped, Terry's been dropped, Cahill, Oscar, Pedro, I don't think it's a big deal that Hazard has had similar treatment, obviously the comments regarding his defensive contribution rake up memories of Mata but we have seen what happened when Mata tried to play to Jose's style and it didn't do his game too may favours...Eden on the other hand was the stand out player in the league last year doing a fair job of it.

He doesn't look as fit as he did and maybe hasn't been training as hard or maybe it's still down to the poor preseason but there are players competing hard for the places in attacking midfield so it's only fair they get chances, Pedro wasn't great today either and I'd be more worried why Oscar isn't getting in especially if we are to see more of Ruben, I don't think Fabregas should be ahead of Oscar further forward.

I expect Hazard to train hard and set out to impress on Jose that he is one of the most important players in the team, it's really up to him to do that and if he's as good potentially as we all think, he will do it.

Train harder at defending? How good is cesc defensively again?

Attacking players at top side are not required to do an excessive amount of tracking back, part of the reason is because they have the ball most of the times.. maybe if there is actually a genuine gameplan while in possession then the team won't lose the ball that easily thus tracking back won't be much of an issue then..  But since the main idea is to sit back playing on counter, regardless the level of opposition then when we do have possession, more often than not, we don't have a clue unless the gaping hole is obvious to see.. 

 

Since the start of the season, we hardly created any clear cut chances, the goals mostly came from lucky break, set pieces, wonder strike etc..  

 

Making players like hazard unhappy only encourage him to explore his options.. lost too many flair players under this manager, hate to see another 1 gone.. 

If he had said that, fine. Why say all these about workrate and defending now?. He was waxing lyrical about all of last season. He was very influential in our league win for God's sake. There are just some players don't have massive workrate. He should have kept in in-house imo. Why tell the media that?

Because his workrate and defensive contribution isn't matching his excellent season last year.

Jose could probably forgive that if he was scoring goals or creating chances but he isn't and so Hazard is as much to blame for our poor start to season as anyone else.

End of the day he is comfortably the best paid player at Chelsea and I don't think his performances have been acceptable considering that so fair play on Jose for calling him out on it.

Eden needs to step up his performances and fast.

Because his workrate and defensive contribution isn't matching his excellent season last year.

Jose could probably forgive that if he was scoring goals or creating chances but he isn't and so Hazard is as much to blame for our poor start to season as anyone else.

End of the day he is comfortably the best paid player at Chelsea and I don't think his performances have been acceptable considering that so fair play on Jose for calling him out on it.

Eden needs to step up his performances and fast.

Mate I understand and share your sentiments but I don't think it matches Jose's. Here's what Jose said.

"Hazard was left out because we are

conceding lots of goals."

"To defend better we need midfield to be

worried just with central area of the pitch -

not to be worried about compensation on the

left or right and playing with Pedro and

Willian means the midfield players don’t have

to look to left or right because they know that

they control very well."

"They did amazing defensive work - the allow

midfield to be comfortable and to have

performances like Ramires and Fabregas

controlling centre of the pitch so it was just a

tactical decision. Leaving super quality on

bench but bringing tactical discipline and

hoping that the team would be solid."

Then

Mourinho: "Hazard can continue on the bench

or he has to replicate the work of Willian and

Pedro."

He criticized him for same thing during 2013/2014 season, if nothing has changed since then, would it change now?

What exactly is wrong with those comments? He's demanding the same discipline from all of his players, no exceptions.

If Hazard drifts off that left flank and doesn't work hard enough to get back into position when we don't have the ball it makes Matic's, Dave's/Baba's job harder because they have to be careful not to get pulled out of position themselves.

Pedro busted a gut on several occasions yesterday to get back and help/cover for Baba... And rightfully so.

Why can't/shouldn't Hazard do the same?

Last year he was given more freedom than anyone else to roam/stay forward but he's not delivering the goods at either end of the pitch right now.

If he isn't contributing going forward then he has to go back to basics and do the hard work from the back to help get performances back on track. If he can't/doesn't want to do that dirty work then he can move aside for players who are willing/able to.

No player is bigger than the team. It's played with eleven men for a reason. 

 

I'm fine with Jose doing this, this'll more likely motivate him to improve his performance right now.

What exactly is wrong with those comments? He's demanding the same discipline from all of his players, no exceptions.

If Hazard drifts off that left flank and doesn't work hard enough to get back into position when we don't have the ball it makes Matic's, Dave's/Baba's job harder because they have to be careful not to get pulled out of position themselves.

Pedro busted a gut on several occasions yesterday to get back and help/cover for Baba... And rightfully so.

Why can't/shouldn't Hazard do the same?

Last year he was given more freedom than anyone else to roam/stay forward but he's not delivering the goods at either end of the pitch right now.

If he isn't contributing going forward then he has to go back to basics and do the hard work from the back to help get performances back on track. If he can't/doesn't want to do that dirty work then he can move aside for players who are willing/able to.

I understand mate. But throughout the entire match we had just 3 shots on target. Chelsea have the 3rd highest wage in the league, we should be putting villa down not thinking about defending... Hazard is an attacker, give him freedom you think when he looks at the stats of d likes of sanchez,ronaldo,messi, debruyne even sterling, he's gonna be happy? If he doesn't have the work rate, adapt him. Players like him compensate so way else. Ozil doesn't have a industrious bone in him but Jose turned him out fine. Silva is a luxury player but every team would love to have him. Pls don't let us go down the mata route... This stinks of it.

Because his workrate and defensive contribution isn't matching his excellent season last year.

Jose could probably forgive that if he was scoring goals or creating chances but he isn't and so Hazard is as much to blame for our poor start to season as anyone else.

End of the day he is comfortably the best paid player at Chelsea and I don't think his performances have been acceptable considering that so fair play on Jose for calling him out on it.

Eden needs to step up his performances and fast.

 

But you could say the same for Fabregas, and more. But unlike Eden, he has yet to feel the bench, or Mourinho's public wrath. 

 

If Jose could explain why Fabregas has not been dropped, maybe I would understand better.

 

Think of this, if you were a defender playing Chelsea, who would you rather face, an out of form Hazard or Fabregas ?

I understand mate. But throughout the entire match we had just 3 shots on target. Chelsea have the 3rd highest wage in the league, we should be putting villa down not thinking about defending... Hazard is an attacker, give him freedom you think when he looks at the stats of d likes of sanchez,ronaldo,messi, debruyne even sterling, he's gonna be happy? If he doesn't have the work rate, adapt him. Players like him compensate so way else. Ozil doesn't have a industrious bone in him but Jose turned him out fine. Silva is a luxury player but every team would love to have him. Pls don't let us go down the mata route... This stinks of it.

I hate comments like that, reeks of arrogance. Just because you have the better team on paper it does not mean you simply put these teams down. Football Is not that simple and great managers are ruthless with players.

Edited October 18, 201510 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

But you could say the same for Fabregas, and more. But unlike Eden, he has yet to feel the bench, or Mourinho's public wrath.

If Jose could explain why Fabregas has not been dropped, maybe I would understand better.

Think of this, if you were a defender playing Chelsea, who would you rather face, an out of form Hazard or Fabregas ?

Not all players respond to the same thing, some need bollocked some need cuddled. Its up to the manager to treat them how he sees best.

I hate comments like that, reeks of arrogance. Just because you have the better team on paper it does not mean you simply put these teams down. Football Is not that simple and great managers are ruthless with players.

No don't misquote sir. City beat bournemouth 5-1 without Aguero/Silva. Barca beat Rayo 5-2 without messi. No disrespect to the lesser teams, its football, in the league goal differences matter, every football fan want to see his/her team play well, score goals.

Anyway I expected a string of comments defending Jose as always, he can do no wrong . But I just think there has to be a way of getting his message across to players without having to call them out so publicly. This is what was going on at Real Madrid and I think the problem is that Jose can’t really walk in their shoes since he never really played the game. That part of him is what’s lacking as a manager, but otherwise he is a fantastic manager, everyone knows that. The drama just needs to stop really. Hazard didn’t deserve this especially when you consider Fabregas playing poorly with low defensive contribution, in nearly every game this season.

Mourinho: "Hazard can continue on the bench

or he has to replicate the work of Willian and

Pedro."

He criticized him for same thing during 2013/2014 season, if nothing has changed since then, would it change now?

As of what I remember it was different - Hazard was told NOT to defend, and play mostly UPFRONT...

As of what I remember it was different - Hazard was told NOT to defend, and play mostly UPFRONT...

After the athletico loss

Hazard: 'Chelsea aren't set up to play football,' Belgian

Hazard told beIN SPORTS' French station. 'Chelsea

are set up to counter-attack.'

Jose: "Eden is the kind of player that is not so mentally ready to

look back to his left-back and to leave his life for him. If

you see the first goal of Atlético you completely understand

where the mistake was and why we conceded that goal. The

perfect team at the top level cannot make these kinds of

mistakes."

After the athletico loss

Hazard: 'Chelsea aren't set up to play football,' Belgian

Hazard told beIN SPORTS' French station. 'Chelsea

are set up to counter-attack.'

Yep, hates it so much he signedva new contract.

A lot will depend on Hazard's reaction - it will either motivate him or he will finish up elsewhere. I hope it's the former.

Yep, hates it so much he signedva new contract.

Sigh. Sorry mate but you don't get it. This isn't me bashing Jose or anything. People seem to think he's perfect. No, he's human he can and he's allowed to make mistake. Publicly criticizing hazard was a wrong move is what I'm saying

Yep, hates it so much he signedva new contract.

No sir, he signed an 'improved' contract to earn better salary. He has a family to maintain and upkeep. Signing a new contract doesn't mean he's unapproachable, its means he would cost more to leave.

Same situation happened two years ago, Jose wanted Hazard to do more defensive work and put more effort in tracking back. It worked, maybe Jose is trying to do the same thing to help Hazard once again.

Same situation happened two years ago, Jose wanted Hazard to do more defensive work and put more effort in tracking back. It worked, maybe Jose is trying to do the same thing to help Hazard once again.

If it worked why are we going through it again? If he had said something like "Hazard isn't in form (which the player admits)" or "Hazard isn't in shape". That's fine and true but to criticize your LW for his defensive contribution when we concede more on the right? And fabgregas contributes what defensively?. Like I said, he's human, he can/will make mistakes which is perfectly normal but let's not say it was the right call