DBasia.news – At Stamford Bridge, during the 16th-week of Premier League, Chelsea defeated the defending champion, Manchester City, with a 2-0 score by the goals from N’Golo Kante and David Luiz, Sunday (9/12).
The public was surprised by Maurizio Sarri’s decision who changed the strategy in this match. He placed Hazard in the False 9 position and didn’t use any striker. Olivier Giroud was benched and Alvaro Morata wasn’t included in the squad.
Morata’s absence raised the question. It’s speculated that he got injured or ruled out in this match.
Anticipating the speculation, Sarri revealed the reason behind his strategy of ruling out the 26-year-old player.
“The reason was clear. We played with Hazard as a striker, so if we have to change something there was Giroud. I think it was useless to have two strikers on the bench,” Sarri said cited by Goal.
Sarri’s decision to place Hazard as the False 9 worked. Even though the player who was born in Le Louviere, Belgium, didn’t score any goal, he is still the nightmare for the contender’s defense and created two assists for David Luiz and N’Golo Kante goals.
The victory against The Citizens is a valuable point for them. They are also the first team who could defeat Pep Guardiola squad in the 2018/2019 Premier League.