Chelsea boss Antonio Conte claims his job is not to keep Real Madrid target Eden Hazard in good spirits: 'It's not important if one player is happy or not'

• e-mail

Antonio Conte has insisted his job at Chelsea is not to keep star striker Eden Hazard happy.

Hazard, a transfer target for Real Madrid, has completed only 90 minutes once in his last eight appearances.

He was replaced after less than an hour against Leicester, on Saturday, as Chelsea toiled to a third successive goalless draw. 

Chelsea's Eden Hazard has completed only 90 minutes once in his last eight appearances

But Blues manager Antonio Conte insists his job is not to keep the Real Madrid target happy

'We are talking about a player who, recently, had a bad injury in his ankle and surgery,' said Conte. 'Usually, when you have this type of situation, you must pay great attention.

'During the season you can have ups and downs. He missed the pre-season with us, too. With him, we are trying to find the best way.

'It's normal that one player can't keep always top of the form. But, like the others, my task is to try and improve him and try and put him in the best physical condition to take the best decision for the team during games.

'Not only for him, but for every single player.

'It's normal that one player can't keep always top of the form,' Conte told reporters on Tuesday

'I am the coach. I decide. It's not important if one player is happy or not.'

Hazard, who broke an ankle at the end of last season, has scored nine goals for his club in this campaign but only found the target once in his last 10.

Chelsea are trying to tie him down to a new long-term contract because his current deal expires in 2020.

But his manager claimed only English football was too obsessed with making sure the players were content.

'Only here is there this situation,' said Conte. 'You are very worried about whether a player is happy or not. This is not important.

'My first task is to do the best for the team and the club. Not to make every player happy. Otherwise we'd risk finishing 20th in the table.

The Italian boss was speaking ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup replay with Norwich on Wednesday

'There is always this question about whether I'm worried about making my players happy. No. I'm worried to win.'

The Chelsea manager did admit the lack of goals were becoming a concern.

'This is a real problem for us,' said Conte. 'We are not conceding goals, which is good news. But the bad news is we're not scoring.

'For sure, we have to improve on this aspect. My players know very well that they can improve.

'Also, if you compare to the past, every single player has scored less than last season. For this reason, we must be worried. Not if a player is happy or not.'