Chelsea legend Hasselbaink reveals why modern strikers have it easier

In a recent interview, Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink explained why modern strikers have it easier. The former Dutch striker, who scored 87 goals in 136 appearances for Chelsea between 2000 and 2004, revealed that Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand were the defenders who made life difficult for him during his playing days. Hasselbaink, who won the Golden Boot twice, admitted that he had only scored against Ferdinand once, but found that defender very difficult to beat.

He noted that the demands on strikers have changed since his time in English football, with modern forwards receiving more protection from referees. Hasselbaink believes that strikers today benefit from greater safety, as they can no longer be tackled as harshly as they were in the past. He also mentioned how video assistant refereeing (VAR) has changed the scrutiny surrounding physical challenges, potentially impacting the decisions made by officials.

Despite acknowledging that modern players may not be as hard-hitting as those from his era, Hasselbaink did not consider them to be soft, attributing the changes to the quicker decisions made by referees with the aid of VAR. When comparing the performances of Michael Owen and Harry Kane, both Ballon d'Or winners, Hasselbaink praised Kane's versatility and technical skills, stating that Kane is the player he would prefer to have in his team.