Chelsea news: Eden Hazard claims Maurizio Sarri can lead Chelsea to a top four finish
What's the story?
Under fire Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been praised by Blues' top scorer Eden Hazard, who claimed that the manager needs his players' support in such turbulent times, on Chelsea's official website.
The Belgian winger said that the team needs to stick together until the season ends if they want to achieve something worthwhile, referring to the recent bust-up between goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Sarri.
Though he conceded that they are under pressure now, he feels confident in the club's potential to be a top-four club in the Premier League.
In case you didn't know...
Eden Hazard's contract with the London based club expires in the summer of 2020, but the club are finding it difficult to tie the fleet-footed winger down on a long term deal at Stamford Bridge, with Real Madrid lurking.
Chelsea have been hit by a transfer ban over the next two seasons by FIFA over irregularities in signing and registration of under-18 players of foreign origin.
The ban, which will last until January 2020, does not prevent the release of players and thus the door remains open for star players like Hazard and Willian to leave the club this summer.
The heart of the matter...
Hazard, who has scored 12 goals and set up another 10 for his teammates in the Premier League this season, told the club's official website that all of the players are behind their manager and have faith in him. He said (Via Goal)
"We are all together."
"We are all with the manager. I know this month was a bit hard but we need to be together, stay together, if we want to do something at the end of the season."
He said that the pressure of finishing in the top four is obviously there, but Chelsea is a team that will make it into the top four. He continued:
"We are there. This is a hard game but we can close the gap a bit on Tottenham. We have the potential to be in the top four but we don’t have to think about that. We just have to think game after game and try to win one more game."
He finally said that they all play for the manager and for the results and performances, players share equal responsibilities with Sarri. He concluded:
"We are playing for him [Sarri], the club, the fans and us. It’s not just about the manager. He puts the players on the pitch and then it’s down to the players to take responsibility."
What's next?
Chelsea need to make a strong comeback from the bitter defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday. But, fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur, whom they host later tonight, won't go down easily.