It’s not clear exactly how Antonio Conte has got Eden Hazard back to his best, but Chelsea fans won’t be too concerned with the details.
The Belgian has been in good form for club and country this season, scoring twice for Roberto Martinez’ side in the recent international break.
Martinez is rarely hailed as a tactical genius. In fact, Belgium raised a few eyebrows by appointing him at all after such a dire final season with Everton in the Premier League.
Nonetheless, he has made one brilliant decision already by moving Hazard into a more central position, where he had previously been playing on the left.
The playmaker admits he’d like to continue that for Chelsea, though he realises Conte is unlikely to change his entire formation just to fit around him.
“I like to play as a No 10,” he said, as per the Daily Mail.
‘I think I have more freedom offensively. For Belgium, we have full backs who run hard and create a lot of space, which is good and I like to play there.
“I don’t know if I will play there at Chelsea. You need to ask the manager!
“Sometimes at Chelsea we don’t play with system with a number 10, too. I don’t think Chelsea wants to change just for me (to play) as a 10.”
Conte may want to think carefully about whether he can accommodate the 25-year-old. Willian, Oscar, and Cesc Fabregas have all played as number 10s this season, but the latter two haven’t made much impact wherever they have played.
Willian, meanwhile, is better on the wing, but he is expected to miss this weekend’s Premier League action following the death of his mother.
Given that Hazard is known to be a little temperamental, Conte may need to do whatever it takes to keep him happy – even if that means switching up his tactics.
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