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Maurizio Sarri admits Chelsea cannot afford to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid

The Belgium international has scored a club-high 19 goals for Chelsea this season.
PA | 4d

Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea cannot afford to lose Eden Hazard.

Hazard's first-half wonder goal set Chelsea en route to a 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge, with the Belgium star also bagging a late second.

West Ham's fans taunted Chelsea by singing "He's off to Madrid", with the Blues' board apparently holding out for £100million from Real to complete a transfer this summer.

Hazard's contract expires next year, and while the 28-year-old claims he is undecided on his long-term future, Chelsea boss Sarri feels the Blues must continue to fight to retain their prize asset.

Asked if Chelsea can afford to lose Hazard, Sarri replied: "From the technical point of view, no, not at the moment.

"It's impossible to find another Hazard; at the moment there isn't another Hazard. The level is so high. In the world you can't find another player like that.

Sarri hopes he and Hazard do not go their separate ways this summer. (Adam Davy/PA)

"So I hope that Hazard can stay here, otherwise we have to try something different."

In the 24th minute, Hazard scored a goal of the rarest quality as he waltzed his past five West Ham players before drilling Chelsea into the lead in west London.

The former Lille playmaker then buried a second at the death as Chelsea stepped up to third in the Premier League table, although playing a game more than Champions League qualification rivals Tottenham and Arsenal.

Chelsea head coach Sarri is convinced the Blues are doing all they can to hold onto Hazard, however, he did concede the player himself will have the final say on his destination.

"I am sure the club doesn't want to sell him," Sarri said. "But of course we all have to respect his decision.

Will Zinedine Zidane be managing Hazard at Real Madrid next season? (Nick Potts/PA)

"He's in the last season of his contract. If he wants to have another experience we have to respect it but we will try in any way to convince him. But it's not easy."

When asked if Hazard has told him he wants to leave, Sarri added: "No. He told me that he has to decide."

Hazard has now equalled his best goals tally for a single season for Chelsea, scoring 19 in all competitions.

After branding his stunning opener "special", Hazard insisted he still has not made a decision over whether to join Real Madrid.

"They are wrong! I am focused on Chelsea until the end of the season," Hazard told Sky Sports, when asked about the Hammers' fans claiming he would head to Real this summer.

"I want to finish in the top four and in the Europa League. We still have a lot to do, and then we will see."

Boss Manuel Pellegrini admitted the Hammers' lacklustre first-half cost them dear at Stamford Bridge.

"When you want, you can; if you don't want, it's impossible," said Pellegrini.

"You must desire to demonstrate how you can play, which team you are. We did that in the second-half."

Unfortunately for Pellegrini, Samir Nasri picked up a calf injury while warming up at half time.

"Nasri was going to start the second-half but during the warm-up he felt a muscle injury in his calf so he was not confident to play," confirmed Pellegrini.

"We'll see how he is tomorrow."



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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs332211064343067
4Chelsea33206757342366
5Arsenal32196765402563
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33188762441862
7Leicester CityLeicester34145154645147
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33138124142-147
9Everton34137144644246
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham34127154251-943
12Bournemouth34125174961-1241
13Crystal Palace33116163943-439
14Burnley34116174260-1839
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle34108163243-1138
16Southampton3399153954-1536
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3296173251-1933
18Cardiff CityCardiff3384212863-3528
RFulham3455243276-4420
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3435261967-4814
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs332211064343067
4Chelsea33206757342366
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd33197763441964
6Arsenal32196765402563
7Leicester CityLeicester34145154645147
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33138124142-147
9Everton34137144644246
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham34126164252-1042
12Bournemouth34125174961-1241
13Crystal Palace33116163943-439
14Burnley34116174260-1839
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle34108163243-1138
16Southampton3399153954-1536
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3296173251-1933
18Cardiff CityCardiff3384212863-3528
RFulham3455243276-4420
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3435261967-4814
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