Eden Hazard: I will only leave Chelsea “as a boss”
By George Perry
Chelsea FC can put at least one transfer rumor to rest: Eden Hazard will not be leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.
Eden Hazard has been the subject of transfer rumors for much of the year as he struggled through the low point of his career. He played coy in many of his own statements during the winter and spring, leading to speculation that he was engineering a transfer to either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.
Perhaps realizing that Chelsea already has enough Belgian midfielder transfer drama on its plate, Hazard confirmed that he will stay with Chelsea at least until his performance returns to “like a boss” levels.
No really.
His words.
"I left Lille as a boss, and I’d like to leave Chelsea as a boss, if I do leave one day."
Hazard did not sugar-coat his self-assessment on the 2015/16 campaign, adding that he has never experienced playing so far below his capabilities and expectations.
"[F]or five or six years I’d always been at my best and this was the first season where it was more difficult. But everyone knows that in a career there are highs and lows. For the time being, touch wood, I’ve only experienced the highs – except for this season, when it wasn’t quite as good."
Hazard’s return to Boss levels starts this week with Euro 2016 as he captains Belgium in Vincent Kompany’s absence. Hazard will lead a squad with 10 other Premier League players, including past, current and potential teammates. Chelsea transfer targets Radja Nainggolan and the once-and-future-Blue Romelu Lukaku will likely join Hazard in Belgium’s starting XI.
Euro 2016 provides Hazard an opportunity to continue his strong close to the 2015/16 season. National teams reported to training camp almost immediately after the end of the Premier League season. Hazard likely welcomed the quick turnaround time so he could maintain the momentum of Chelsea’s Premier League run-in, where he gave fans a of glimpse of what they had become used to seeing in earlier years. His header goal in a friendly against Norway on Sunday showed that his confidence and touch – key elements of his like-a-boss swagger – are back on line.
Hazard’s commitment to regaining his performance standards will be tested after Euro 2016. Last season Hazard reported to pre-season training visibly unfit. His early performances showed that he was not yet in the physical or psychological frame to play at a Premier League level, let alone at a defending champions level. His mental and physical laxities in September and October fed a cycle of poor performances. Hazard’s off-season discipline and motivation will be key to avoiding a repeat of last season.
Eden Hazard did plenty of literal and figurative badge-kissing through the back-half of the 2015/16 season. By the end of the season he made amends with the Chelsea faithful, first by trolling Tottenham Hotspur and then by scoring the title-clinching goal for Leicester City. Today’s comments affirm his desire to regain the fans’ trust and support.
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Hazard appears to have taken the proper approach to understanding and contextualizing the 2015/16 disaster season. His unwillingness to slink away from Chelsea or leave on anything less than a high note reveals a competitive fire and self-confidence that was lacking last year.
All quotes taken from Sky Sports.