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Premier League | Gameweek 33
Apr 8, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
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2-0

Hazard (24', 90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Maurizio Sarri admits Chelsea cannot afford to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid

Sarri: 'Chelsea cannot afford to lose Hazard'
© Reuters
The Belgium international has scored a club-high 19 goals for Chelsea this season.

Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea cannot afford to lose Eden Hazard.

Hazard's first-half wonder goal set Chelsea en route to a 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge, with the Belgium star also bagging a late second.

West Ham's fans taunted Chelsea by singing "He's off to Madrid", with the Blues' board apparently holding out for £100million from Real to complete a transfer this summer.

Hazard's contract expires next year, and while the 28-year-old claims he is undecided on his long-term future, Chelsea boss Sarri feels the Blues must continue to fight to retain their prize asset.

Asked if Chelsea can afford to lose Hazard, Sarri replied: "From the technical point of view, no, not at the moment.

"It's impossible to find another Hazard; at the moment there isn't another Hazard. The level is so high. In the world you can't find another player like that.

Chelsea Press Conference and Training Session – Cobham Training Ground
Sarri hopes he and Hazard do not go their separate ways this summer. (Adam Davy/PA)

"So I hope that Hazard can stay here, otherwise we have to try something different."

In the 24th minute, Hazard scored a goal of the rarest quality as he waltzed his past five West Ham players before drilling Chelsea into the lead in west London.

The former Lille playmaker then buried a second at the death as Chelsea stepped up to third in the Premier League table, although playing a game more than Champions League qualification rivals Tottenham and Arsenal.

Chelsea head coach Sarri is convinced the Blues are doing all they can to hold onto Hazard, however, he did concede the player himself will have the final say on his destination.

"I am sure the club doesn't want to sell him," Sarri said. "But of course we all have to respect his decision.

Zinedine Zidane File Photo
Will Zinedine Zidane be managing Hazard at Real Madrid next season? (Nick Potts/PA)

"He's in the last season of his contract. If he wants to have another experience we have to respect it but we will try in any way to convince him. But it's not easy."

When asked if Hazard has told him he wants to leave, Sarri added: "No. He told me that he has to decide."

Hazard has now equalled his best goals tally for a single season for Chelsea, scoring 19 in all competitions.

After branding his stunning opener "special", Hazard insisted he still has not made a decision over whether to join Real Madrid.

"They are wrong! I am focused on Chelsea until the end of the season," Hazard told Sky Sports, when asked about the Hammers' fans claiming he would head to Real this summer.

"I want to finish in the top four and in the Europa League. We still have a lot to do, and then we will see."

Boss Manuel Pellegrini admitted the Hammers' lacklustre first-half cost them dear at Stamford Bridge.

"When you want, you can; if you don't want, it's impossible," said Pellegrini.

"You must desire to demonstrate how you can play, which team you are. We did that in the second-half."

Unfortunately for Pellegrini, Samir Nasri picked up a calf injury while warming up at half time.

"Nasri was going to start the second-half but during the warm-up he felt a muscle injury in his calf so he was not confident to play," confirmed Pellegrini.

"We'll see how he is tomorrow."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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