Jose Mourinho tells Eden Hazard to work harder or stay on Chelsea bench Last Updated: 17/10/15 11:54pm
Jose Mourinho has told Eden Hazard he will be left on the bench until he matches the defensive workrate of Willian and Pedro. Last season's PFA Player of the Year was left out of the starting line-up as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-0 to win in the Premier League for just the third time this season. And Mourinho afterwards left Hazard in no doubt what he has to do to win back his place.
"I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals. We need to defend better," the manager said. "When you don't have the ball, quality means nothing and what means [thumps chest]...you have or you don't have.
"It was just a tactical decision, leaving super quality on the bench, but bringing tactical discipline and hoping that the team could be solid.
"Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work and allowed the midfield players to be very comfortable. I continue that way, or he comes in our direction and tries to replicate the same work that Willian and Pedro did." Mourinho picked teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek in his midfield but replaced him with Nemanja Matic at half-time.
He said: "I wanted more solidity. He's fantastic with his vision and the decisions he makes on the pitch. But without the ball you cannot compare him, tactically, with the others."
And on Diego Costa, who scored one and made the other on his return from suspension, Mourinho said: "The way he was working in the past two weeks with us, I knew clearly he would bring something positive for us."
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10033336/jose-mourinho-tells-eden-hazard-to-work-harder-or-stay-on-chelsea-bench
