MX23RW : Tuesday, February 4 03:46:54| >> :120:11464:11464:

Jenas claims Hazard has outgrown Chelsea and should move on

Jenas claims Hazard has outgrown Chelsea and should move on
© Reuters
The Belgian playmaker has been deployed regularly as a false nine rather than in midfield.

Eden Hazard is "too good for Chelsea" and has outgrown the team, according to former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas.

Belgian playmaker Hazard again impressed during the Blues' 1-0 defeat by Spurs in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Wembley, where he was deployed once more as a false nine by Maurizio Sarri.

The 28-year-old, contracted to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2020, has continued to be linked with a big-money transfer to Real Madrid.

Jenas, who made more than 150 appearances for Tottenham during a playing career which was cut short by injury, believes the Belgian must look elsewhere to fulfil his potential.

"I thought he was unplayable at times," Jenas told BBC Radio 5 live's Football Daily podcast.

"I actually said (during the match commentary) that I think he is too good for Chelsea.

"Chelsea are obviously a top, top side, but I think he has outgrown them. I think he has outgrown his position within that team.

"He needs to move on. He is above a level of everybody else that is around him."

Hazard has won two Premier League titles with the Blues since arriving from Lille during September 2007, and helped the team to FA Cup success last season.

Jenas, though, feels Sarri is not utilising the full talents of the Belgian, who helped his county finish third at the 2018 World Cup.

"You're definitely not getting the best out of Hazard (playing him through the middle)," said Jenas.

"You get the best out of him on the left, doing what he wants to do, dropping into midfield, breaking from deep, running at players. That's how he scores a lot of his goals.

"Up top, with his back to goal, he is a lot easier to deal with. He is still a danger, but he is much easier to handle."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '72fdd978-8c08-4b35-8e77-563a5df5a4bf');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Jenas claims Hazard has outgrown Chelsea and should move on'});

ID:346382: cacheID:346382:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4349:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ayoze Perez pictured on December 22, 2018
Read Next:
Ayoze Perez admits 'something is wrong' at Newcastle
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2481063538-334
11Brentford2494114242031
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!