Tony Cascarino slams Eden Hazard for disrespecting false nine role
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has slammed Eden Hazard for disrespecting the role of a false nine in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.
Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud have both struggled for form and fitness in recent months, which has forced Maurizio Sarri to shift Hazard to a more central attacking role with Willian and Pedro playing out wide.
The Belgian provided the assist for Willian’s second-half winner against the Magpies but Cascarino, who was present in the stands to watch the game, wasn’t impressed with the talisman’s unnecessary showboating.
Cascarino said in The Times: “I went to Chelsea on Saturday and Eden Hazard disrespected the false nine role.
“He was flicking everything that came his way with no regard for team play.
“He’s normally the one running on to the flicks but when you are asked to do a job for the team, do it properly.
“He’s a wonderful player but I wasn’t impressed, it was like a Harlem Globetrotters approach.”
Hazard’s positional switch has been a case of needs must for Chelsea at times, with Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud failing to convince in a more conventional striking berth.
Cascarino believes Sarri needs to address those issues with another recruitment window open, with another proven performer required.
He added: “There’s no way it’s [Hazard as a false nine] a long-term solution for Maurizio Sarri.
“They need to get a central striker in quickly.”
