Most Seen: Sarri hails Hazard performance and rate him after Chelsea win

Most Seen: Sarri hails Hazard performance and rate him after Chelsea win 

Maurizio Sarri hailed the performance of Eden Hazard as the Chelsea star helped maintain his side’s 100% start to the new season with a win over Bournemouth.

The FA Cup holders had to bide their time against Eddie Howe’s side and eventually broke the deadlock with 18 minutes remaining through second half substitute Pedro. 

Hazard put the game to bed with a classy strike, his second goal in as many games, five minutes from time as Chelsea made it four wins from four games under their new manager.

They defended very aggressively and made the situation not so easy. Usually this kind of match you can win in the last 20 minutes and we did. ‘I don’t know if we are able to win something this season, but Eden Hazard is very important to us,’ said Sarri afterwards.

‘In the first half it was very difficult to play – we needed to move the ball at a higher speed – but it wasn’t easy. We needed more movement without the ball, but I think we did well. ‘I’m really very happy with my players at the moment.

I don’t want to think about the last four matches – it’s better to think about the next one.’ Hazard endured a fractious relationship with Sarri’s predecessor Antonio Conte, but admits he is enjoying the former Napoli manager’s brand of football.

He said: ‘We were always confident we would score. When you’re playing like that you have to be patient. We have a lot of players that can score any minute. We did well to keep the ball and move it quickly, because we were too slow in the first half. 

‘I’m feeling confident, I’m enjoying my football, we have a new manager and lots of good players. ‘I know when I play good the team play good, so I need to be ready for everything. The season is long, but we will fight to the end, and we will keep improving.’