JOSE Mourinho fouled the air again after a welcome 2-0 win against struggling Aston Villa Saturday by practically making star player Edin Hazard the scapegoat of Chelsea’s surprise struggles of the new campaign.
Mou was within his rights to have left Hazard, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill on the bench against Tim Sherwood’sbeleaguered team, and must be very delighted with returnee striker Diego Costa who inspired the win in what the Portuguese tactician himself admitted was not an inspiring performance.
However, to suggest that Hazard was left out of the team “because we are conceding lots of goals” was to blame his star man unfairly and make him the scapegoat of all of Chelsea’s troubles this season.
“I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals,” began Mou shortly after the win against Villa! “It was a tactical decision.
“Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work. I told the players that this is not the moment to think about personal situations, or to moan or to be selfish.”
Well at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I insist Mou is within his rights to drop any player in any match. However, I can’t imagine Hazard would be too pleased with his manager’s uncomplimentary remark about him after a welcomed victory.
And I kept wondering why not just savour the win and tell journalists Hazard was left out for tactical reasons, whatever that means in your head? Alright the Belgian hasn’t been at his best this season. But so do most of the Blues, bar Willian and possibly the injured Thibaut Courtois. So to suggest Hazard was the reason for Chelsea leaking goals? Common, Mou!
I don’t know what Mou stands to gain if he starts losing the confidence of his players in a season when he has practically pressed a self-destruct button by disrupting the peace in the backroom staff, he continues fighting with the FA, the refs and just about anybody.
The last people he wants to fight against especially in public are his players because they are the first and the last armour in his war coat.
Mou scathed Hazard like this two seasons ago and got away with it. But then he was not at war with so many juggernauts at the time like he is now. And I remain at a lost as to the wisdom of his public and unfair criticism of Hazard, the player who was mostly responsible for both of your successes of last season.
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