Jose Mourinho says he doesn't know how to get Eden Hazard back to his unplayable best – but he thinks the Belgian's poor form is just a blip.
Hazard had a largely anonymous performance during Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, being taken off for Andre Schurrle after 68 minutes – a switch that saw an improvement from the Blues.
Mourinho had little positive to say about Hazard's performance, but insisted it was nothing to worry about just yet.
Asked if he thought Hazard had had a poor game by his standards, he said: “Yes. Agree. I don't know what he needs.
“I know he needs to play more than he did today. In a pragmatic way, it's just that.”
Mourinho has spoken out about the condition in which he received some of his players from the World Cup, but he insisted that was no part of the problem as far as Hazard was concerned.
“No, I think he started well the season,” added the Chelsea boss. “Eden played good matches with us.
“I think it's more an isolated not good performance than a period. No dramas and not too much worried about it, but (against Villa) was not his day, was not his performance.”
