Ruud Gullit has urged the Belgium to conserve his energy on the final third of the pitch as he continues his search for his first league goal of the season
Ruud Gullit says Eden Hazard needs to copy Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by doing less work in defensive areas of the pitch if he is to rediscover his best form.
The 24-year-old Hazard was named PFA Players’ Player of the Season last term, after helping fire Chelsea to the Premier League title, but has suffered a disastrous dip in form this term.
Hazard has yet to score in the top flight and cut a forlorn figure once again as the Blues drew 0-0 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday – after being deployed in a central attacking position by manager Jose Mourinho.
“He worked too hard [against Spurs],’ former Chelsea boss Gullit said on the BBC‘s ‘Match of the Day 2’. ‘I want him to be sharp in front of goal. He kicks the ball, head’s down, head’s down, he still has to run forward.
READ MORE | Chelsea felt like a small team – Pochettino
“This is a sign of a player like: ‘Oh my God. I have to run again.’ All players know that, when you put your head down like that.
“He is as important as Ronaldo is for Real Madrid. He is as important as Messi is for Barcelona. Do they chase back as much? No, because they need to save their energy for the right moment.
“He did it to prove a point but to get the best out of him, I don’t want him to chase that much. I want him to concentrate on the moments that the team gets the ball.
“They have to give him the ball as quick as possible and then he does his thing. When that is coming back, he’s going to get goals again.”