Premier League: Di Matteo impressed by Hazard’s show
Chelsea manager says his impact not surprising.
LONDON:
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo says he is not surprised by the immediate impact Eden Hazard has had on the Premier League. The Belgium attacker scored his first Chelsea goal and contributed another assist in the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
“He hasn’t surprised us. We had watched him a lot last season,” said Di Matteo. “It’s a different league, so you’re not quite sure how he’ll adapt to the Premier League, but he seems to have found his feet very quickly.”
Stoke, Arsenal play out goal-less stalemate
Meanwhile, Stoke City and Arsenal fought out a largely sterile 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium yesterday leaving both still looking for their first wins of the season after also drawing last week’s openers.
Arsenal, who drew 0-0 with Sunderland last week, went closest to a goal seconds from time when French striker Olivier Giroud crashed in a hopeful angled shot from 40 metres out that just flew over the bar.
However, he might have done even better if he had played the ball in to the unmarked Aaron Ramsey who would have probably had a better scoring chance. Stoke went close with a Peter Crouch effort, but although Arsenal dominated territorially, they failed to break down a typically resolute defence.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2012.
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo says he is not surprised by the immediate impact Eden Hazard has had on the Premier League. The Belgium attacker scored his first Chelsea goal and contributed another assist in the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
“He hasn’t surprised us. We had watched him a lot last season,” said Di Matteo. “It’s a different league, so you’re not quite sure how he’ll adapt to the Premier League, but he seems to have found his feet very quickly.”
Stoke, Arsenal play out goal-less stalemate
Meanwhile, Stoke City and Arsenal fought out a largely sterile 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium yesterday leaving both still looking for their first wins of the season after also drawing last week’s openers.
Arsenal, who drew 0-0 with Sunderland last week, went closest to a goal seconds from time when French striker Olivier Giroud crashed in a hopeful angled shot from 40 metres out that just flew over the bar.
However, he might have done even better if he had played the ball in to the unmarked Aaron Ramsey who would have probably had a better scoring chance. Stoke went close with a Peter Crouch effort, but although Arsenal dominated territorially, they failed to break down a typically resolute defence.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2012.