Mourinho: Hazard should be more flexible

Jose Mourinho has tasked Eden Hazard to be more flexible in their Champions League game against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

The forward who has spent a chunk of his days at Chelsea on the left of attack but was deployed in the No. 10 role against Norwich where he flourished.

He demanded to play in that position prior to his arrival at Stamford Bridge but has seen his best form for the Blues displayed when he comes against an opposition right back.

It depends on the opposition and where the opposition is strong. But, obviously, when the player is not playing well we have to try ­solutions to help him recover his confidence.

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. In that No 10 position, he can also do it. He’s trying a lot. We could feel that he tried against Norwich, and he’s OK, he’s improving.

Mourinho tells Hazard not to get too comfortable in the No. 10 role as he sees him as a perfect left inverted winger.

Because 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 who play zonal 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.

Jose Mourinho, Source: Telegraph

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