Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Eden Hazard enjoys playing as a false nine in his Chelsea side.
The Belgium international was used in that role by Antonio Conte last season but Hazard grew frustrated at being starved of possession and hit out as his former manager’s tactics following a particularly abject performance against Manchester City.
Sarri opted to deploy Hazard through the middle against City at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago and the 27-year-old registered two assists as the champions slumped to their first defeat of the season.
Hazard then ended a 12-game wait for a goal at Brighton last weekend, before scoring the goal which sealed a place in the Carabao Cup semi finals at the expense of Bournemouth.
On his star man’s best position and current form, Sarri said: ‘He told me he likes very much to play there. I wasn’t here last season, so I don’t know why he said that before. ‘There isn’t a best position for Hazard. He is a wonderful player, you have to let him be free on the pitch.
‘We started the two matches as Hazard as a striker. Then I wanted to see the solution to work in other situations, so I need two or three matches to see it. I explained the point of view to Giroud, then we will see.
‘The solution is good I think. We played a good match against City and against Brighton we were dangerous for 60 minutes. T ‘Then it was a different match, more physical. We needed to kill the match before, the players thought it was under control. ‘We lowered the level of application. We need to avoid this as we have to think to kill the match.’