Jose Mourinho reveals his 'perfect' No.10 - but it's not Eden Hazard

Jose Mourinho believes Eden Hazard does not have the ability to become Chelsea’s regular No.10 and says Deco and Wesley Sneijder are the two “perfect” players who can fulfil that role.

The Belgium international has asked the Chelsea manager about changing from the left flank to a central role, and although he was tested in that position against Stoke City and Norwich, last season’s PFA player of the Year was used on the left in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

When he was asked if Hazard could thrive in that role in the long term, Mourinho replied: “As a number 10? I don't think so.


“We have different concepts of number 10, me and him.

“For me a number 10 does a lot of things, with the ball and without the ball. So for me a number 10 is a very special player in my team.

“With a system of two midfield players and one number 10, I demand a lot from a number 10.

“I like a number 10 to score goals. I like a number 10 to get in the box. I like a number 10 to score goals like Oscar's against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“A number 10 for me is an eight-and-a-half when the team loses the ball, and the number 10 is a nine-and-a-half when the team has the ball.

“Who is my perfect number 10? Wesley Sneijder and Deco. Because they could defend, get in the box and finish goals? Yes.”