Eden Hazard disobeyed Conte, says Tony Cascarino

Football News – Eden Hazard has been accused of failing to follow Antonio Conte’s instructions in Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal.

The forward was singled out by former Blues striker Tony Cascarino.

In the aftermath of Saturday’s embarrassing defeat at the Emirates, Branislav Ivanovic revealed that some of the players didn’t believe in what they had been asked to do by the Italian manager.

‘We didn’t believe in what we were doing at the beginning and we were punished,’ said the defender. ‘As a team we didn’t answer anything the manager asked of us.’
Ivanovic didn’t name any team-mates individually, but Cascarino was more forthcoming.

‘Did they deliberately ignore the instructions? For me, I think they are uncomfortable in what he [Conte] is asking them to do,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘When players ignore instructions it is usually because they don’t want to do it. They want to be comfortable in their own game.

‘There are a few Chelsea players who are playing for themselves. They are more interested in how they play but it is not helping the team.

‘You can certainly accuse two or three. Hazard would fall into that bracket. We all know how good he is and how good he can be but I would say he is one of the players who did not follow instructions at the weekend.

‘There were probably two or three others and you only need two or three others. Then your team is finished. You are going to get beat.’

Hazard was virtually anonymous at the Emirates before Conte replaced him on 71 minutes.

Cascarino was also critical of Chelsea’s defenders.

‘Defensively, they are awful,’ he said. ‘I think you can question all the back four. Azpilicueta has not played anywhere near as well. Ivanovic has been poor for 18 months. Cahill has really struggled to be the number one. David Luiz drops far too deep and keeps people onside. The goalkeeper [Thibaut Courtois] as well just looks disinterested.’

Category: Football