Hazard 'maybe best in Europe'

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes Eden Hazard is capable of scoring 40 goals this season after revising his opinion of "maybe" the finest player in Europe.

The 27-year-old scored three times in a come-from-behind 4-1 win over an outclassed Cardiff City and boosted his tally to five goals in as many Premier League appearances.

"I thought Hazard was one of the best players in Europe, but now I am changing my mind – maybe he is the best," Sarri told reporters. "I have spoken to him in the last two days, yesterday I told him for me he can score 40 goals.

"But [to do that he has to] spend less energy far from the goal and play in the last 25 metres." Sarri's mood after the convincing victory was further improved with the news Mateo Kovacic's muscle problem, which forced him off early in the second half, had been deemed not to be serious.