Maurizio Sarri urges Eden Hazard to remain at Chelsea for the rest of his career
Maurizio Sarri has said Eden Hazard should stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career, because he can “win everything” – including the Ballon D’Or – at Stamford Bridge.
The playmaker’s future has typically come up again in the course of international week, with the 27-year-old saying on Belgian duty that Real Madrid remains a dream but then later insisting he could finish his playing days with his current club.
A new contract is currently in the balance, and Sarri urged him to sign it because he can fulfil all of his ambitions at Chelsea.
“But of course,” the Italian said. “Of course. Eden, for us, is important. He's a fantastic player. It will be important for us if he remains with us. Very, very important. But I think also that he can win everything, possibly a Ballon D'Or, here.
“Without playing in Spain. Because, for example, Chelsea will be able to win the Champions League. Belgium could win the European Championship. He could win everything, without playing in Spain.”
Amid ongoing interest from Real Madrid, former Bernabeu president Ramon Calderon argued Hazard is being kept at Chelsea against his will. Sarri, however, laughed this off.
“I don't think he is! In the last three months, I have seen him always very happy. So I don't think so. It's nothing.”
When asked whether he had told Hazard he could win everything at Chelsea, Sarri said: “Not at the moment, because I have seen him for the first time in the last two weeks only yesterday. But I want to tell it to him very soon.”
As regards to Chelsea’s other players who have speculation about their futures, Sarri dismissed the comments of Andreas Christensen’s father – who said his son may have to seek regular football elsewhere – and said he has seen signs of improvement in Alvaro Morata.
“I am not able to think on the market at the moment. I am completely focused on my team, and improving my players. In the last month, I think Morata has played better. In the last three days I have seen him very well in training, very very well.”
Of Christensen, he said: “The father? I'm not interested... the father? No. What can I say? I think that, in the first part of the season, David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger have played really very well, so it's not easy to change. I think, also, that in our last six matches, Christensen has played in three of them. So I think, for his father, it's not important. But, for us, it's not important.”
“He is very young. I think he has to improve. But I think that he's a technical defender, so I think he is suitable for me and my way of football. I think that, in the future, he will be available to play very often.”
