Hazard wants to be a Chelsea ‘legend’ after hitting century mark
LONDON: Eden Hazard offered Chelsea fans hope his future may remain with the Londoners by stating he wants to become a club “legend” like former team-mates Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba.
Hazard scored his 100th and 101st Chelsea goals as Maurizio Sarri’s men moved back into the Premier League top four by grinding out a 2-1 win at Watford on Boxing Day.
However, doubts remain over the Belgian’s future with his contract set to expire in 2020 and persistent rumours over interest from European champions Real Madrid.
“It means a lot, especial ly because we won today also,” said Hazard on reaching his Chelsea century.
“100th and 101st goal with this amazing club is something I will never forget, but now the fans, me, the staff, the players, we want more.
“I want to score more goals for this club and be a legend like Lampard, Terry or Drogba.”
Two of the three goals came in first-half stoppage time as Hazard’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Roberto Pereyra’s spectacular strike.
However, Hazard made sure he was the match-winner as he was brought down by Ben Foster and then converted the resulting spotkick early in the second half to move Chelsea two points ahead of Arsenal in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Despite fuming at Chelsea’s lack of focus in losing at Stamford Bridge for the first time in charge of the Blues to Leicester on Saturday, Sarri named the same starting line- up with Hazard again serving as the focal point of the attack ahead of Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.
“Hazard can play in every position,” said Sarri. “Today he played very well with two goals and could have had a two or three assists.” — AFP