Football
ESPN staff 8y

Eden Hazard better on Chelsea's left wing than as No. 10 - Jose Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard's is best playing on the left wing, despite the Belgian international's desire to play in a No. 10 role.

In Saturday's win at Norwich, Hazard finally showed the form that has led his name to be mentioned among the best players in the world a year ago.

And his success game as Hazard was deployed as the central playmaker rather than his usual left-wing role.

The 24-year-old said he had previously spoken to Mourinho about trying the No. 10 role, though he added that it was "not a problem" if he stayed on the wing.

But Mourinho remained unmoved, saying ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game at Maccabi Tel Aviv that he still prefers Hazard on the flank.

"I think his best position is the position where last season he was the player of the season," Mourinho said.

"There he can attack defenders more in an individual way. When he gets the ball it's more about him attacking the right-back and the right-back is always in trouble against a player who has his best quality in a one-against-one.

"When he plays at No. 10 he gets into areas where sometimes he is surrounded by teams with two or three players in the same zone.

"Many times he receives the ball with his back to the opponents and I know he can turn well but I also know that players can be very aggressive with him and press him from behind and make lots of fouls like he always had.

"He can do both things. Let's see match after match what we think is the best for him it depends on what we want for the game."

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