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Maurizio Sarri hints he will use Eden Hazard as Chelseas main striker again

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Eden Hazard could play as a striker in the future claims Maurizio Sarri (Getty Images)

Maurizio Sarri praised Eden Hazards second half performance and suggested he would be happy to deploy him as a striker again after Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-0.

The Italian sprang a surprise with his team selection against City by deciding against picking either Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata in his starting line-up.

Morata, who started in the midweek defeat to Wolves, wasnt even among the substitutes and instead it was Hazard who played through the middle in a false 9 role.

Although Hazards goalless run in the Premier League extended to seven games, he did help himself to two assists for NGolo Kante and David Luiz as Chelsea sealed a vital win.

After the game, Sarri said: He had some problems at the beginning of the match, but I think he played really a very great second half.

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Maybe he deserved to score today. I think its a very good option. We will play like today in the future for some matches of course.

Initially it looked as though Sarris tactical gamble had backfired as Hazard was peripheral for much of the first half – so much so that after 40 minutes hed had the fewest touches on the pitch.

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However, his movement and awareness was on show for Chelseas first goal as he intelligently squared a pass across the box for the onrushing Kante to thump home.

Hazard isnt alien to playing as a central striker – he also did so during Antonio Contes reign – but if Sarris experiment continues, he can expect to have far more freedom in that role than before.

Sarri enjoyed great success by converting Dries Mertens into a central striker from a wide position and it will be interesting to see whether he can do likewise with Hazard.

Although Sarri insisted it was a tactical move, it does raise questions over the futures of Morata and Giroud, who between them have scored fewer goals (six) than Hazard (seven) in the league this season.