Chelsea coach Sarri believes Eden Hazard can score 40 goals this season
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Sep 18, 2018
Eden Hazard hailed Olivier Giroud as the best target man in the world after the pair combined to spearhead Chelsea's convincing 4-1 victory over Cardiff City.
Eden Hazard can score 40 goals this season and win the Premier League Golden Boot, according to Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri after the Belgium forward scored a hat-trick to maintain the club's flawless start to the season.
'I talked with Eden [on Friday] and I told him that for me, he can score 40 goals.
Last season Egypt worldwide Mohamed Salah and Englishman Harry Kane were the two players that scored more than 40 goals in England.
"At the moment for me Liverpool and Manchester City are better than us", Sarri said. "He has to improve some things, but he can do it".
Chelsea's flawless winning start to the season is papering over the lack of firepower from their big money signing Alvaro Morata, and with Olivier Giroud hardly prolific, the big priority in the new year is likely to get another goalscorer through the door - a move for Mitrovic would be surprising but he indeed appears to be on the radar.
Tottenham's Harry Kane ran Salah closest last season, but both men have had a slow start to the season in terms of goals by their standards with two each.
Nevertheless, Sarri wants Hazard to concentrate his effectiveness in the final third of the pitch rather than dropping deep to start moves from the halfway line.
"I think he is right, because we are very risky in the defensive phase, we need to improve there", he said. We can cope with the problems with the quality in the offensive phase, but not in the defensive phase.
Sarri said that when he arrived at Chelsea he thought Hazard was one of the best players in Europe. We have to improve step by step.
"My target is to be the best team in England but not in one month", said the Italian, who took over from compatriot Antonio Conte in the close season.
"Put him in the Liverpool and Manchester City team at this moment in time and I think he might be able to".
