Mourinho Insists Eden Hazard isn't His Ideal Number 10

Jose Mourinho has revealed that his former Barcelona and Chelsea player, Deco, and Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder are the two “perfect” players who can play the role of number 10 for him.

Mourinho claimed that last season's EPL player of the year, Eden

Hazard does not have the ability to play the role of a regular No.10 for the Blues.

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.” Goal