Wednesday, 21st November, 2012


Chelsea star Eden Hazard has expressed his surprise that the Blues have sacked Roberto Di Matteo as manager, given they are not, in his view, in crisis. He also called the Italian "a great coach".

Hazard was given an attacking role for Chelsea in their 3-0 defeat away at Juventus in the Champions League last night, and it was a result which proved the final straw for Blues owner Roman Abramovich, who gave Di Matteo his marching orders earlier today.

But for Hazard, if anyone is to blame, it is the players, and not the manager, who famously won the Champions League and FA Cup for the club last season.

And the Belgian forward also dismissed any suggestion that Chelsea are in crisis.

"He has shown in recent months that he was a great coach", Hazard said of Di Matteo to French sports daily L’Equipe.

"He is on the bench and not on the pitch. So perhaps it should be we who are placed on the spot", he continued.

"But we cannot say that we are in a crisis.

"We are third in the league and can still qualify in the Champions League.

"It is true that in terms of the numbers you can see we have stalled, but you can also see beautiful things in the game and perhaps what we’re lacking is only luck."

Hazard joined Chelsea over the summer from French outfit Lille for €40M, but already the forward is set to witness a managerial change at Stamford Bridge.

Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is strongly fancied to succeed Di Matteo, but it remains to be seen what length deal he might sign.

The Spaniard is also unpopular with large sections of the Chelsea faithful, despite a proven record of success in Spain and England.

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