Manchester United legend Gary Neville feels Eden Hazard showed a lack of maturity and cannot be compared to Cristiano Ronaldo
Get Manchester United FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes Eden Hazard still has some way to go before he can be considered one of the best players in the world.
Hazard failed to show his best form when it mattered the most for Chelsea as the Premier League leaders suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday which cut their lead at the top of the table to just four points.
According to the Manchester Evening News , Neville had special praise for the way United midfielder Ander Herrera nullified the Chelsea star during the game and feels his outstanding performance was the key behind Jose Mourinho's game plan on the day.
(Photo: AFP)
Former United captain Neville named Herrera man of the match - but also believes Hazard made it ‘easy’ for the midfielder.
The Sky Sports pundit claims that is why the Belgian international is still short of the game’s greats like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“I’ve got loads of time for him - great player,” Neville told Monday Night Football. “I always think that maybe he needs to go that step further.
(Photo: Getty)
“Is he a bit timid to be what would be a really selfish, horrible best player in the world - Cristiano, Messi type that really has that drive and determination?
“I thought he accepted things too easily. He made it easy for Herrera far too often.
“He made it as comfortable as can be.
“In and out of possession, I thought he made it simple.”
Hazard is among the favourites to be named PFA Player of the Year after taking Chelsea to the brink of he Premier League title.
But Neville believes his display at Old Trafford is a reminder that the 26-year-old is still some way short of the very best.
He claimed Hazard should have been intelligent enough to drag Herrera out of position.
(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
“Man marking is okay in central areas,” he added. “You cannot man mark a winger who plays wide.
“It is impossible because you can’t stand right next to him - you’ve got to give yourself a five yard gap.
“That’s the position he should have held and been patient. He showed a lack of maturity and a bit of naivety.
“He should have stayed in that position all game. He’d have got in.
(Photo: Matthew Peters)
“He almost thought: ‘This is really difficult, he’s man-marking me,’ and accepted it.
“Didn’t really go and do something different.
“If you think of Hazard there (wide), he can get into positions, he can wriggle, manipulate the ball, win free kicks and Herrera would’ve had a lot more difficult day. He lost his patience.
“Hazard fell short of his understanding of playing against a man-marker.
“You need to play high and wide or high and through the middle. Next time he might.”