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Chelsea will do everything they can to keep hold of star player Eden Hazard , chairman Bruce Buck has said.
The Belgian has emerged as a prime target for Real Madrid in recent seasons, with the forward himself keen to make the move to the Bernabeu before it’s too late.
Indeed, Hazard this month revealed it was his childhood “dream” to play for Real Madrid as he admitted that he remains unsure about his Stamford Bridge future .
Southampton vs Chelsea player ratingsShow all 22 1 /22Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings <b>Southampton:</b> Alex McCarthy: 6 out of 10 A good save from Alvaro Morata highlighted his impressive shot-stopping skills. Faultless for the three Chelsea goals.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Jan Bednarek: 5 out of 10 Struggled at both centre-back and out of position at right-back. Substituted at half-time, though that had little to do with his performance and more to do with a necessary tactical switch of formation.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Maya Yoshida: 5 out of 10 Anonymous at the heart of the Southampton defence. Olivier Giroud in particular dominated him.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Wesley Hoedt: 6 out of 10 Two excellent sliding challenges in the first half but was fortunate that a third did not concede a penalty. A couple of wild slices when in space in the Chelsea box that he could have perhaps done better with.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Cedric Soares: 5 out of 10 Eden Hazard got plenty of joy against Cedric, but he will tear plenty of right-backs asunder through the rest of the season.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Mario Lemina: 5 out of 10 Similar to his midfield partner. Ineffective, and looked lost in forward areas, stalling a counter-attack in the second half particularly noticeably.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 4 out of 10 Awful mistake to concede possession to Barkley for Eden Hazard’s opener costs him. Too passive early on, like many of his teammates.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Ryan Bertrand: 6 out of 10 Magnificent ball to lay a goal virtually on a plate for Danny Ings during Southampton’s brief better first half spell. Squandered an almost equally good chance at the start of the second half.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Manolo Gabbiadini: 4 out of 10 Cut a dejected figure when substituted. Started too deep out of position on the right, then moved up front where he looked more comfortable, then beckoned back over to the right wing. Some poor choices in the final third.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Nathan Redmond: 6 out of 10 Nearly lit up Southampton’s performance with a marvelous swerving dipper from distance, but otherwise quiet. Kept Cesar Azpilicueta pushed back for most of the afternoon, however.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Danny Ings: 5 out of 10 Hopelessly isolated early on, and then missed a glorious chance from Bertrand’s ball with the score at 0-0. He was better in the second half, but fortunate not to be sent off for an ugly lunge late on.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings <b>Chelsea:</b> Kepa Arrizabalaga: 7 out of 10 Quiet in the first half, Kepa was forced into action a few times in the second, including a spectacular save from Nathan Redmond’s swerving effort. He’ll have busier afternoons, but few better saves.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta: 6 out of 10 A lot of Southampton’s brighter moments came down his channel, though the Spaniard was not at fault for any of them. His usual solid self.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Antonio Rudiger: 6 out of 10 Largely untested but won plenty of headers.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings David Luiz: 6 out of 10 See Antonio Rudiger. Clever little block to free Giroud for Barkley’s goal.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Marcos Alonso: 7 out of 10 A constant menace marauding down the left, always an extra body in space, allowing Hazard to thrive. The defensive problems many foresaw with Alonso at left-back have not emerged yet. Playing very consistently at the moment.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings N’Golo Kante: 6 out of 10 Kante, bizarrely, had noreal influence on the game. Workmanlike, as ever, but not his sort of contest.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Jorginho: 7 out of 10 The great conduit through which this Chelsea team runs, Jorginho was Jorginho. Tidy and with a clear eye for a pass, he is never out of position and seemingly unable to lose the ball. Started to really pull strings in the second half.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Ross Barkley: 8 out of 10 A fine performance. Won the ball back and played a lovely pass for Hazard’s goal and showed why he is back in the England squad with his all-round showing. Passed well, dribbled superbly and ran the game in midfield.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Willian: 6 out of 10 Continues to waste corner-after-corner, and with Pedro fit again you wonder if Maurizio Sarri may consider a change on the right wing. Willian didn’t really threaten despite seeing a fair amount of the ball.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Olivier Giroud: 8 out of 10 Spectacular, if inadvertent, assist for Chelsea’s second. His usual effective self around the field, creating space for Chelsea’s array of attacking threats.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Eden Hazard: 9 out of 10 The best player on the pitch with an ability to light up the game at any moment. A goal and an assist. Defences are so scared when he turns and runs at them. Early favourite for Player of the Year.
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But Buck has reassured fans that the club will do what they can to keep hold of the midfielder, who has scored seven goals in just eight Premier League games this season.
Speaking in Doha for the Financial Times future of football event, Buck said: “Every Chelsea fan in London and around the world loves Eden Hazard, and he's not only a great footballer but I think he's a wonderful lad.
“We want him to stay and we will do what we have to do to entice him to stay.”
Chelsea remain eager to tie Hazard to a new deal at the club, with his current contract set to run out in 24 months. If unsuccessful, the Londoners could be forced into selling the 27-year-old early in order to make as money possible from any potential deal.
After this was put to Buck, he claimed Chelsea would have to look at Hazard's displays throughout the current campaign: “Let's see how it goes between now and the end of the season.”
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