Maurizio Sarri Says Eden Hazard Must Train Harder to Become the World's Best

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has called on Eden Hazard to step up his effort in training and become the world's finest footballer.

Following a brilliant FIFA World Cup with Belgium and an excellent start to the 2018-19 season with Chelsea, the forward has been praised by plenty in recent days. A stunning goal on Wednesday, the winner in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, has only served to fuel the hype.

Sarri was asked about his star man in his press conference on the eve of Saturday's meeting with the Reds and said he still believes there is more room for Hazard to get better, per Liam Twomey of ESPN FC.

"I think that he is for sure one of the best [in the world]," said the Italian. "But I am absolutely convinced that he can improve. If he's able to improve during the training, maybe he will be able to use himself at 100 per cent because, I think that we have seen only 70, 80, 85 per cent of his potential. I think that if he is able to improve, he will be the best in the world."

While Hazard has enjoyed incredible seasons previously, most notably when he helped Chelsea to Premier League titles in 2014-15 and 2016-17, he's never started a campaign with such potency in front of goal.

The Belgian has five goals already in the top flight and grabbed his sixth, and undoubtedly his best, in the win over Liverpool. 

The Chelsea Twitter account shared what was quite an inspired piece of play from their No. 10:

With Saturday's match against the Reds in mind, it's clear the Blues forward loves playing against Liverpool too:

While Hazard can look casual on the pitch at times, his goal at Anfield was indicative of a player who is determined to make an impression for his team.

After demanding the ball back from Cesar Azpilicueta he surged towards goal with a bristling intent. Naby Keita and Alberto Moreno were unable to halt him, while the finish was past Simon Mignolet in a flash.

That hunger for goals is not something we've always seen from Hazard, but Sarri appears to have ignited it early in his tenure as manager.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Chelsea man has been the best footballer in the top flight over the last few years:

Sarri clearly thinks there is more to come and in his setups, where players are afforded attacking freedom, Hazard might well be on course for his best ever Chelsea season and supporters will be hoping that leads to silverware.

Still, to get close to the summit of the game and the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Hazard needs to maintain this level of performance and level of goalscoring for months to come. Even for someone of his ability, that's an enormous challenge.