Hazard insists the Blues haven’t lost their rhythm
LONDON: English Premier League champions Chelsea have the depth to succeed in multiple tournaments this season, despite the departure of several key players in the transfer window, midfielder Eden Hazard has said.
Nine players permanently left Stamford Bridge in the transfer window, including former captain John Terry and midfielder Nemanja Matic, and a further 16 have been loaned out to other clubs. The club signed six new players.
Chelsea failed to complete several big transfers in the final stages of the window, but Hazard believes his team have the manpower to compete across the league, domestic Cups and the Champions League.
“I think this year will be no different from the previous years, in the sense that every year it is difficult – especially when you play in many competitions,” Hazard told the Daily Mail.
“This year we have the Champions League as well and it is not easy to succeed in multiple competitions.
“But we will do our best and we have got depth in our squad so sometimes maybe one or two players can rest so they are 110% for the next competition.”
Chelsea qualified for the Champions League this season after missing out last campaign and Hazard, who has been at the club since 2012, is keen to win the competition for the first time.
“We just want to win as many trophies as possible.
“For me personally I haven’t won the Champions League so maybe that one would be a little bit more special, but I would prefer us to win everything,” he said.
The Belgium international, who missed the start of the current domestic season with an ankle injury, returned to action during his nation’s World Cup qualifying victories over Gibraltar on Aug 31 and Greece on Sunday.
Hazard also praised Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as “one of the best managers in the world” and said he shares a good relationship with the Italian.
The 26-year-old playmaker is likely to feature in Chelsea’s trip to Leicester in the English Premier League on Saturday.