Thursday 6 November 2014 08:02, UK
Mark Schwarzer insists Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard will continue stepping up to take penalties, despite his failure at Maribor.
The Belgian playmaker couldn't convert his 86th-minute spot-kick when his calmly-taken effort was saved by Jasmin Handanovic, meaning Chelsea had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Slovenia.
I would back him every other time to score. He’s got a lot of self-belief, he's got that ability, but he’ll pick himself up again.
Schwarzer, Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper, was watching the game in the Sky Sports studio and believes the miss will not dent Hazard's confidence when he next receives a chance from 12 yards.
"He’ll definitely step up and take the next one," the veteran Australian said.
"I would back him every other time to score. He’s got a lot of self-belief, he's got that ability, but he’ll pick himself up again. He’ll be disappointed of course.
"His ability on the ball is phenomenal. Very few players have the touch and control that he does. He’s a fantastic penalty-taker but that can happen. Time and time again he does step up because he’s that confident but on this occasion he missed – it was a good save.
"Eden Hazard was unbelievable. When he has the ball at his feet it’s almost impossible to get it off him. We lifted it to another gear and on another night would have won the game more comfortably."
Feeling blue
Schwarzer also said that failing to defeat Maribor - who were thrashed 6-0 in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago - will delay Jose Mourinho's plan to finish top of their group.
He continued: "Mourinho will be very disappointed, I know what he’s like. He’ll come away thinking ‘okay any other occasion we’d win the game with the chances we had in the second half’. Tonight [Maribor] played the game of their lives.
"In the first match, every chance we scored. Tonight was one of those nights. The first 45 minutes wasn’t good, the second 45 minutes was much better.
"They scored a very good goal, I felt sorry for Petr Cech who had very little to do all night but conceded a goal.
"Top spot is a priority. The manager was always adamant, and again this season he’s said the same thing, that he wants to finish top to make sure you’re in the right side of the draw."
