Chelsea star Eden Hazard is getting dream advice for an attack-minded player.
It seems his manager wants him to be more one-dimensional.
Hazard scored thrice in Chelsea’s 4-1 demolition of Cardiff City on Saturday to bring his goal haul to five on the Premier League season.
[ RECAP: Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City ]
And Maurizio Sarri thinks the Belgian can tempt Mohamed Salah’s Premier League record of 32 goals if he focuses on the final third.
“He touched the ball in our own half six times,” Sarri said. “That means he spent more energy.”
Hazard’s previous PL-best goal season is 16, set in 2016-17. Can he double that in a season?
Probably not unless Chelsea takes the shackles off to the extent Jurgen Klopp does with Salah at Liverpool, but the 27-year-old looked scintillating while combining with Olivier Giroud and company on Saturday.
A better question might be whether Chelsea is the best team in the league through five matches. They do, after all, lead the table on goal differential.
Sarri on whether Hazard is the best player in the league: "Maybe, I thought Hazard was one of the best players in Europe. Now maybe I have changed my mind [since joining the club], maybe he is the best. I think he can improve even more." Adds he wants him closer to the goal #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) September 15, 2018
Sarri on Hazard needing to run less: "He touched the ball in our own half six times. This means he spent more energy. Then he can have more energy in the final 25 metre, I think Hazard can score 30 or 35 goals." #CFC #CHECAR
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) September 15, 2018