Hazard better out wide says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has told Eden Hazard not to get too comfortable playing in the number 10 role for Chelsea.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mourinho has revealed that he still believes that Hazard’s best position is out on the left for Chelsea. This news will come as a surprise for Chelsea fans, after a dazzling display from the Belgian this weekend.

Hazard has been out of form this season and has looked a shadow of the player that drove Chelsea to a league and cup double last season with some superb individual performances.

So, something had to change for Chelsea’s number 10 and that was to play him as a number 10. Hazard started in behind Diego Costa on Saturday against Norwich and was a handful for Alex Neil’s defenders.

It was Hazard’s best performance of the season by a long margin and Chelsea fans wondered whether this was the start of something new with Hazard.

Mourinho was quick to point out his opinion:

I think his best position is the position where last season he was the player of the season. With confidence levels high and with the team playing well I think it’s his best position.

He went on to explain why he prefers Eden out on the left:

When he plays at No. 10, he gets into areas where sometimes he is surrounded by teams. When he gets the ball [on the left flank] he can attack defenders more in an individual way.

Mourinho finished with:

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