Eden Hazard has expressed his frustrations following Chelsea’s performance away at Manchester City on Sunday.
As reported by the London Evening Standard, Hazard claims the Blues did not play to their strength against the Premier League champions-elect.
When you leave the pitch you have the impression that you’ve ran, but that you haven’t played a game of football. That’s a pity. We could have played on for three hours, and I wouldn’t touch a ball. Only at the end it went better: in the last 10-15 minutes we had more possession. But we should have tried to do that all game.
Hazard confirmed that he would have liked to see a recognised striker start the game.
We haven’t played with our qualities. If Giroud or Alvaro Morata would have played upfront, it would have been easier to play those long balls. With me, its a little bit more complicated, but I’ve tried to give my best.
Antonio Conte adopted a very defensive tactic at the Etihad, similar to how the Blues played against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
However, unlike the team that faced Barcelona, there was little to no attacking intent from the Blues, who were seen walking across the pitch during parts of the game on Sunday.
Hazard was utilised as a ‘false nine’ and looked disinterested, sparking yet more talk he could look to leave the club this summer.
The Italian head coach has defended his system after coming in for criticism from large sections of the media.
Conte has cited Arsenal’s two heavy defeats in the space of a week against City as to why he didn’t go with a more open and attacking system against Pep Guardiola’s side.
