Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard is not ready to “sacrifice himself 100%” for his team-mates.
Mourinho was responding to reports that the 23-year-old Belgium playmaker criticised his boss’ tactical approaches, following Wednesday’s 3-1 aggregate loss to Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“Eden is a player who is not mentally ready to look back to his left-back and leave his life for him,” Mourinho replied, when quizzed about the comments attributed to the new Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Young Player of the Season.
The manager “does not really think” Chelsea can win the Premier League title, but opines they have to win both of their remaining fixtures- with Norwich and Cardiff City- “and finish the season with a feeling of victory”.
The ‘Blues’ will end the ongoing campaign without an European trophy for the first time since winning their first European Cup in 2012, after being knocked out of the last-4, with Mourinho suffering his heaviest home-defeat in charge of the ‘Blues’.
The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss has been on the receiving end of several criticisms aimed at his team’s defensive tactics in the semi-final first leg and in the league win over Liverpool before the midweek exit.
Hazard, who has scored 14 league goals this season, told French media that “Chelsea are set up to counter-attack and not to play football”
“The media was reporting that he was being critical, but there’s nothing critical in what he says,” claimed Mourinho.
“When the comment come from a player like Eden, it’s normal because he’s not a player ready to sacrifice himself 100% for the team and the team-mates. And the comments weren’t critical.
“I’m not happy. I speak all season and I try to improve him all season.”
Unless Liverpool, Manchester City, who has played one game less than its rivals in the title run-ins, slip up; Mourinho is poised to finish the outgoing campaign without a trophy for a second successive season for the first time.
When questioned on the possibility of finishing the season with a trophy. Mourinho took the media down memory lane, explaining how the 2013/14 season has been good enough for the Europa League holders.
“I don’t think it is a bad season. It is a transitional season and to arrive where we have arrived is very good,” continued Mourinho.
“If you told me that for two, three, four years in a row that we don’t do more than fight for the title until the last game and to go to the Champions League semi-final, that is a good step.
“Normally you compare to the season before and if you do that, Chelsea lost the title in November and when Manchester United won the title, Chelsea were something like 20 points behind. In the Champions League Chelsea were the first team knocked out in the group stage after being champions. It was a big step being able to fight for the title and the Champions League.”
Last week’s 2-0 win at Anfield doused Liverpool’s hopes of winning the league for the first time in 24 years, and reignited City’s chase for a second in since the 2011/12 season.
Mourinho says it is in Manuel Pellegrini and his wards’ hands to claim a league and cup double this season.
“They have three matches to win and be champions but you never know, he noted.”