Gianfranco
Zola believes the style of play head coach Maurizio Sarri has introduced at
Chelsea can help Eden Hazard enjoy a career season for the club.
The 27-year-old was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI on Monday night, in
recognition of the leading role he played in Belgium's run to the World Cup
semi-finals.
Hazard finished seventh in the overall voting for the FIFA's Best Men's
Player of the Year award, which was won by Luka Modric, and Zola sees
potential for him to climb that list this season.
"Eden has done magnificently in the World Cup. You can see he is a player
who is getting better and better," said the Chelsea assistant manager.
"I don't think, in my opinion, Hazard has reached his full potential. I
believe he can use his skills even in a better way. I truly believe in this.
"I think this year the team, and Maurizio in particular, will help him to
really reach his full potential.
"As you get more experience and you play at a high level for a long time,
you get better and better. You know how to use your abilities in a better
way, a more efficient way. It is a process he will do himself. Of course we
will try to suggest to him how to be more effective on the pitch."
Hazard's most prolific season for Chelsea came in 2014/15 when he scored 19
goals in 52 appearances, 14 of which came in the Premier League.
In 2016/17, he scored 16 Premier League goals - his highest ever total - but
just 17 overall.
This season, Hazard is on pace to shatter those marks.
After failing to score in his opening two games, neither of which he
started, Hazard has scored five in his last four matches.
Zola believes Hazard is already reaping benefits from the attacking style
Sarri has adopted since succeeding Antonio Conte.
"I think the way we try to play will benefit him a lot because we try to
play a lot in the opposition half and the closer we keep him to the goal,
and the more times we can get him the ball around the box, the more
effective we can be," Zola said.
"If you see the stats we play the majority of the games in opposition half
so you touch a lot of balls - especially our strikers - in the last 20
metres."
Zola is well placed to discuss the challenges of scoring goals for Chelsea,
having scored 59 for the club himself between 1996 and 2003.
He has had numerous spells in management since retiring in 2005, most
notably with West Ham, Watford and Birmingham City, who he left in April
2017.
The 52-year-old Italian was out of football until agreeing to return to
Stamford Bridge as Sarri's assistant in July and he admits he has already
learned a lot from his compatriot.
"For me, it is a new world," Zola said of working under Sarri. "Maurizio
opened a big world in front of me.
"I thought I knew a lot about football. I was wrong.
"It has been great as an experience, plus I am enjoying the person and his
staff. We are working very well together."
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