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| Hazard's performance has improved since his recall to Jose Moruinho's starting lineup |
EDEN HAZARD has revealed that he had a meeting with manager Jose Mourinho to plot a switch to the middle - and it is beginning to pay off for Chelsea.
The Belgian playmaker, Footballer of the Year last year, has along with his team had a wretched start to this season.
Hazard, so electric as Chelsea won the title last year, has looked slow, sloppy and lacking in imagination so far in this campaign. But since a switch to the 'number 10' role in the middle behind striker Diego Costa, things have started to improve.
Hazard saw his country's match with Spain cancelled last week because of the terrorist outrages in France and the connection with Belgium and heightened tension there over the weekend, so it has not been easy off the pitch. But against Norwich, the 24 year old was back to very near his mesmerising best.
He said: "I spoke with the manager before we played Stoke in the Capital One Cup. I said to him 'Maybe we have to change something. Maybe I have to play No10'.
"We did and I played well. Against Norwich it was the same. I don't know if I have to play every game there. I just want to play."
Hazard dismissed rumours of a rift between himself and Mourinho, which has seen speculation that Real Madrid may try to tempt him away in the summer.
He said: "No, I don't have a problem with him. I heard a lot of things about it but no. Everything is good. He is the best manager for Chelsea.
"I didn't start the season well. I know that. I gave everything - I don't know why that was. I tried to find out but sometimes you don't know. You just have to keep going, waiting for better performances. Maybe there is more attention on me now. But I have to play with this responsibility."
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| Diego Costa too looked better, but still fluffed his lines in front of goal despite scoring |
On Belgium, he said: "It has been hard. Everybody loves football. When we cannot play, it's difficult. But for security, it was better to cancel the game. I hope in a couple of days it will be good everywhere again."
Chelsea were better all round on Saturday with not just Hazard but also Nemanja Matic vastly improved, and promising young Brazilian Kenedy doing well at left back.
The one worry is Diego Costa, still struggling for goals. He missed two clear chances, one thanks to a fine save from Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Eventually his persistence paid off, as he moved onto a quick Cesc Fabregas free kick to coolly net his first goal in seven games.
Though Kurt Zouma hit the bar and other chances went begging, it was enough to put a stop to a run of three straight league defeats for Chelsea - but things might have been very different had Norwich been awarded a first half penalty when Willian seemed to barge over Robbie Brady.
For the Canaries Parisian-born Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong this past week has been especially difficult.
He said: "In St.Denis where I'm from, where my mum lives, that is where the shootings were.
"I was in Cameroon with the national team and my brother called me and told me to look on the news. I was shocked.
"I couldn't wait for it all to be over. But when I'm on the pitch that's the only place where I don't think about anything else.
"By playing football I'm an ambassador for my family. You have to put it behind you, otherwise they win."
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic 7; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 7, Terry 7, Kenedy 7; Fabregas 7, Matic 7; Pedro 7 (Oscar 83 6), Willian 7 (Ramires 87 6), Hazard 8 (Azpilicueta 90 6); Costa 7.
Goals: Costa 64.
Booked: Willian.
NEXT UP: Maccabi Tel Aviv (a), Tuesday CL.
Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy 7; Wisdom 6, Bennett 7, Bassong 7, Howson 6 (Hoolahan 72 6), O'Neil 6, Mulumbu 6 (Dorrans 72 6), Brady 7; Redmond 6; Mbokani 6 (Jerome 72) 6. Booked: Mulumbu, O'Neill, Bassong, Olsson.
NEXT UP: Arsenal (h), Sunday PL.
Referee: C Pawson (Sheffield).
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