Maurizio Sarri has downplayed suggestions that Eden Hazard‘s change of position was the biggest factor behind his improvement against Tottenham.
Hazard was excellent in the second leg of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final victory, scoring the second goal and being generally quite mint.
The Belgian played on the left-hand side of the attack, having most recently featured regularly as a false nine.
Olivier Giroud was instead used at centre-forward and Hazard had a much greater impact in his preferred role.
But Sarri suggested his excellent performance was more due to him playing “with another determination”.
“We played with another mind, with another motivation, with another determination and so I think these qualities are more important than the position,” he said.
“I think the position is not a big problem.”
Hazard discussed Sarri’s most recent critique of his leadership skills after the game.
“To be fair I don’t care,” he told Sky Sports. “I just play my football and it doesn’t matter what the manager says.
“I’m always focused on this team and I just want to do my best for this team.”