Eden Hazard Targeted by Manchester United with Ugly Tactics, Claims Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte has blamed Manchester United for targeting Eden Hazard with excessive physical force in the recent FA Cup game between the two teams.


United visit to Stamford Bridge hoping to get revenge for the 4-0 defeat suffered earlier in the season. Back then, Jose Mourinho used his familiar system against the 3-4-3 of Chelsea. It proved to be highly ineffective with his team kept apart over the course of 90 minutes. In the FA Cup game, however, the team improved drastically, although they could not prevent a 1-0 loss. United were reduced to 10 men after two yellow cards for midfielder Ander Herrera.

After the game, Chelsea boss Conte was extremely disappointed with the tactics adopted by United, as he felt that Eden Hazard was largely targeted by the opposition with brute force.

The Belgian was constantly fold in the game, while there was even an incident of defender Marcos Rojo appearing to stamp Hazard. It is highly likely that the Argentine defender will get a retrospective three match ban for the incident. Herrera received both yellow cards for his challenges on Hazard. Only after the sending-off did Chelsea players get time on the ball. N’Golo Kante scored the only goal of the game in the second half to give Chelsea passage into the semifinals of the competition.

"In 20, 25 minutes for Hazard, it was impossible for him to play football.I see only that he got a lot of kicks. I don't think that I'm crazy and I see only him in this situation.He started receiving kicks and finished receiving kicks. No one person can say this did not happen. This tactic, to play by going to kick the opponent, does not exist. It's not football for me. I don't think this can be a tactic," said Conte.