Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has been criticised for putting in a performance against Newcastle United that was ‘lacking in respect’.
Tony Cascarino, the former Blues striker, slammed Belgium international Hazard in his Times column, saying he was playing with a ‘Harlem Globetrotters approach’.
“I went to Chelsea on Saturday and Eden Hazard disrespected the false No 9 role,” Cascarino writes.
“He was flicking everything that came his way with no regard for team play.
“He’s normally the one running on to the flicks but when you are asked to do a job for the team, do it properly.
“He’s a wonderful player but I wasn’t impressed, it was like a Harlem Globetrotters approach.”
Hazard led the line against Newcastle, assisting Willian’s winning goal before being withdrawn in place of Olivier Giroud in the final minutes.
Though he has shown to be effective as a false nine in Maurizio Sarri’s system, Hazard was nowhere near his best in the 2-1 defeat of the Magpies.
The 28-year-old attempted just a single shot, and touched the ball on only 61 occasions – the third lowest total of all Chelsea’s outfield starters.
Cascarino’s criticism of Hazard ‘flicking everything that came his way’ also rings true, with a lowly 65 per cent of his 40 attempted passes finding a team-mate; no other member of Sarri’s starting XI completed fewer passes on Saturday.
Sarri continues to trial Hazard at centre-forward as the other options – Alvaro Morata and the aforementioned Giroud – are clearly not cut out at this level.
However, Cascarino insists Chelsea must do all they can to bring a new striker to Stamford Bridge to truly solve the club’s problems in the final third.
“There’s no way it’s (Hazard as a false nine) a long-term solution for Maurizio Sarri,” Cascarino continues. “They need to get a central striker in quickly.”
Chelsea are hoping to wrap up the signing of Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentina international, this month. Higuain is currently on loan at Milan from their Serie A rivals Juventus, but he has handed in transfer request and told San Siro chiefs he wishes to leave before the January transfer window closes.