Sarri Hints at Hazard Exit
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019 16 Sarri hints at Hazard exit £100m too cheap, but• hard to keep hold of Eden Hazard, admits Sarri AFP | London helsea manager Maurizio Sarri admitted it will be Chard to deny Eden Haz- ard a move to Real Madrid this summer, even if a reported £100 million ($130 million) move is “too cheap” for the Belgian cap- tain. Hazard was in stunning form Ajax players Hakim Ziyech and David Neres share a laugh during training as the Blues moved up to third in the Premier League, scor- ing both goals in a 2-0 win over West Ham on Monday. Ajax revel in role as He admitted his first goal was “something special” as after col- Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard (R) shoots to score lecting the ball just inside the Champions League West Ham half, Hazard jinked from signing any new players much will depend on Hazard past three defenders before due to a one-year transfer ban with Gonzalo Higuain showing coolly slotting home. imposed by FIFA. little sign of hitting form. underdogs However, Chelsea may be “From the technical point of The Argentine striker stat- forced to cash in on their prized view no, not at the moment,” It (£100m) is too ed his desire before kick-off AFP | Amsterdam asset as their number 10 has just added Sarri when asked if Chel- cheap in this market! to make his move permanent over one year left on his contract sea can cope without Hazard. We have seen in the should Chelsea successfully ap- he return of Ajax to the and has so far refused to extend “Also because it is impossible last few windows peal their transfer ban, but he Tlatter stages of the Cham- his deal. to find another Hazard. At the every price I think. had another night to forget in pions League is a welcome Should they refuse to sell this front of goal. moment there is not another I’m sure the club breath of fresh air for the com- KNOW WHAT summer, Chelsea run the risk of Hazard, because the level is too doesn’t want to sell “When Hazard is able to play petition, according to coach losing their top scorer on a free high.” like in the last two matches of Erik ten Hag. transfer in 2020. him, but of course we course for the team it is easier,” The four-time winners of the “It (£100m) is too cheap in Hazard focused on top four all have to respect his Sarri said. “We can win against trophy will take on the Juven- There has not been a this market! We have seen in the Victory ensured Chelsea decision, I think every team.” tus of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Dutch representative last few windows every price I moved into third in the Pre - MAURIZIO SARRI Having failed to muster a first leg of the quarter-finals at the quarter-finals think,” Sarri said. mier League, two points clear of single attack of note before the in Amsterdam on Wednesday, “I’m sure the club doesn’t Tottenham and three ahead of break, West Ham sparked into their first appearance in the since 2007, when PSV want to sell him, but of course fifth-placed Arsenal in the race life in the second half and could last eight since 2003. Eindhoven were beaten we all have to respect his deci- for a top-four finish. have made Chelsea pay for their They made a welcome re- by Liverpool sion, I think. Both their London rivals “For now I am just focusing failure to kill the game off. turn to the forefront of the “He is in the last season of and Manchester United -- five on Chelsea until the end of the Marko Arnautovic’s clever European game when they tions, added the coach, with contract, if he wants to have points back in sixth -- now have season,” he said. cut-back picked out the un - reached the Europa League FC Porto facing Liverpool in another experience we have to a game in hand on Sarri’s men. “I want to finish in the top marked Manuel Lanzini at the final two years ago, losing to the last eight. respect it. We will try in any But Hazard insisted he is four and do well in the Europa edge of the box, but his shot was Manchester United. Last season, all eight quar- way to convince him, but it is focused solely on delivering League. We still have a lot to do too close to Kepa Arriza- However, it has become ter-finalists came from the big not easy.” Champions League football for and then we will see.” balaga before Aaron harder for Dutch clubs to four European leagues, and The prospect of losing Hazard Chelsea next season either via With trips to Liverpool and Cresswell then ar- compete with the very big - there has not been a Dutch is even more daunting for Chel- a top-four finish or winning the Manchester United to come in rowed a shot inches gest sides on the continent in representative at this stage sea as they are currently banned Europa League. Chelsea’s last five league games, wide of the far post. recent seasons. since 2007, when PSV Eind- Despite that, Ajax have hoven were beaten by Liver- turned the clock back on a run pool. that started in the second “It’s not only good for Ajax qualifying round last July. but also for the Champions They went on to stun Real League as it’s not good that Virgil van Dijk votes for rival Raheem Madrid in the last round, each year the same seven or Raheem dumping out the holders 5-3 eight clubs get to the quar - Sterling as PFA player of the year Sterling on aggregate. ter-finals and win the Cham- “For Ajax it is very impor- pions League. AFP | Berlin for the league crown. from voting for their team “Of course, you’re go - tant to play the quarter-fi - “That is not what supporters “I voted for Raheem Sterling,” mates. ing to be proud, that’s nals but also financially the want. Football has to surprise iverpool defender Virgil van Van Dijk told reporters. “I did Liverpool, who have kept 17 something you have circumstances have really people and it’s very nice that LDijk says he voted for Man- what I thought and I thought clean sheets in the league this to be, but all the hard changed in recent years and we can be the surprise this chester City’s Raheem Sterling he deserves it. He’s had a fan- season, are also still in the hunt work in the training for a country like the Neth- year.” to be named PFA player of the tastic season. I could have voted for the Champions League tro- ground is some - erlands it’s really difficult to The sides will meet again year. for Bernardo Silva as well and phy and played Porto in the first thing we all did to- get to this stage,” Ten Hag in the return leg in Turin next Van Dijk is one of the favour- another couple of players from leg of their quarter-final. gether. said at a press conference Tuesday, April 16, with the ites for the award after helping Manchester City. Van Dijk said he was focused “It is to win some - yesterday. winners going through to a Liverpool deliver a sustained “But I’m just being honest. I on winning with the team, not thing as a team, a collec- “Only Portugal have semi-final against the winners Premier League title challenge, think he has improved a lot as on individual accolades. tive thing as a club. Hopeful- been able to do it as of the all-English tie between while Sterling has scored 15 a player.” “Individual trophies? I don’t ly that is something that will well” among Eu- Manchester City and Totten- league goals for City, their rivals PFA rules prohibit players know,” the Dutchman added. happen.” rope’s smaller na- ham Hotspur. Ricciardo still not fully comfortable in Renault after Bahrain test RaceFans | London Ricciardo, who retired while for me, it’s about finding all of it. running tenth in Bahrain and I feel there’s a lot more to come.” aniel Ricciardo says he is yet to score a point this year, Following Renault’s double still has progress to make did one of the team’s two days We’ll get there soon and retirement in Bahrain team prin- Din adjusting to his Re - of running in last week’s test as sure enough and I’m cipal Cyril Abiteboul said they nault following last week’s test he continues to acclimatise in confident we’re heading will approach this weekend’s in Bahrain. the RS19. in the right direction. race cautiously. Last year’s Chinese Grand Prix “We’ll get there soon and sure We showed signs of that “Our overall competitive- winner admitted he is not fully enough and I’m confident we’re ness is good enough for our comfortable in his new car after heading in the right direction. over the race weekend, drivers to be racing in the top joining the team from Red Bull. We showed signs of that over going from a struggle 10 and closer to the top teams “I’m certainly getting there the race weekend, going from on Friday, followed by than last year,” he said.