Blues boss Antonio Conte is encouraging Eden Hazard to keep hitting his victims when they are down
The Italian claims his advice is so Hazard can reach the standard set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Alvaro Morata claimed Hazard is in the top three players in the world after the Belgian set up his goal in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
Hazard was superb in Madrid in what was only his second start of the season, following ankle surgery in the summer, and has another big chance to show he is ready to rival Ronaldo and Messi against Manchester City on Saturday.
“I think that, sometimes, Eden is… if he scores one goal, he’s happy and then, if there is another situation, he prefers to make an assist rather than scoring twice,” said Chelsea head coach Conte.
Punching his fist while describing the hunger shown by Ronaldo and Messi, Conte added: “I see, for Ronaldo, that if he scores once he wants two, three, four. It’s the same for Messi.
“Yes, Eden can improve in this situation. But I think that, during the games, when you create – for example, at Atletico, he was important because he put the ball in for Alvaro to score our goal. It’s very important that he is important in every game for us, to make chances, to score or to provide assists for our players. Very important.
“I ask this of him because one player with his talent, it’s important as a coach to ask him to be decisive every game. If God gives you this talent, you must exploit this talent. My task is sometimes to try and push him to be decisive in every moment, in every game.
“I think in this season Eden has a big opportunity. A big opportunity. Because, this season, we play in the Champions League. I think the Champions League, together with the Premier League, is important for a player to show you are a top player and can compete to be the best. I think this is very important this season.
“Now I’m pleased because, after a bad injury, now he’s fit. He’s in good form. His season is starting. I think this season has started for him with a big game against Atletico Madrid and now he has to show this season that he deserves to stay at the top with the best.”
“Eden, in every game, he finds a way to be decisive during a game. To score or to make an assist for a team-mate. I love this. I love this from him.
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