Eden Hazard has reportedly made a decision on his Chelsea FC future and has informed incoming boss Antonio Conte that he wants to stay. Good news?
While Chelsea FC have endured an abominable campaign, Eden Hazard has exemplified the club’s drastic turn in fortunes. With rumours suggesting that he will be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer, the latest report claims that he has told Antonio Conte of his desire to stay. Should fans be excited?
The Times (subscription required) claims that the Belgian is willing to get his head down over the summer and make amends with the Blues fans next season.
"Eden Hazard has told Antonio Conte that he wants to stay at Chelsea next season…[he] is understood to have responded positively to meeting Conte and is determined to put a disastrous season behind him."
Hazard was on top of the world about twelve months ago, being showered with numerous accolades after driving Chelsea to a domestic double. However, this season has been nothing short of disastrous for the winger. He has been wholly ineffectual and has failed to hit the back of the net once in Premier League play.
More from The Pride of London
- Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea player ratings: Abysmal, reckless, wasteful
- Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea: 3 Blues talking points
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 1 Blue Mauricio Pochettino should drop
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 3 Blues who must start
- Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Bournemouth: Palmer starts in 4-2-3-1
While the fans were at the height of their frustration, Hazard did not help himself by failing to rule out a move to PSG. Many were already supporting his sale but after those remarks, the fanbase were almost unanimous in their plea to move him on over the summer.
However, Conte appears to be keen on retaining the Belgian and it now seems that the player also wants to come out fighting against his critics next season.
Blues fans are likely to be split with regard to their reaction to this news. Given the apparent lack of commitment from the majority of the squad, some simply want the club to start on a blank sheet and get rid of them all.
However, Hazard showed last season that he has the ability to carry a team. He is supremely talented and if his head is in the right place, he is the star man on this roster. The issue is whether the poor attitude that has plagued both him and several other squad members can be purged.
Conte has a mammoth task awaiting him, but there are few other men better suited to the job. This club needs discipline, not a shoulder to cry on, and the Italian certainly brings much of the former. If he believes in Hazard, then he will do all that he can to get him back on track.
Furthermore, the report suggests that the winger is also keen to turn over a leaf and that is absolutely crucial. He needs to be reborn and this is the sort of mindset that can facilitate it.
Fans may still want to see his back, but this development may even increase those benefits. With the player keen to remain at Stamford Bridge, it will likely take a bigger offer than previously touted to lure him away.
At the age of 25, Hazard is not yet the finished article. All players go through a tough period in their careers and this is his. As a result, he should certainly be afforded a season to make up for it. His career will be defined by how he reacts to this campaign and he has all the tools to come out stronger on the other side.
Next: Chelsea FC’s Top 30 Transfers Of All Time
Excited may not be the right word, but Chelsea fans should be eager to see him turn out in a blue shirt next season.