Hazardous being me, moans Eden

EDEN HAZARD has admitted that he is now feeling the “wear and tear” that defenders have dished out on his body throughout his career. But the Chelsea star, 27, is ready to carry on taking the punishment if it means his team keeps winning. Chelsea’s top scorer and inspiration this season played an hour of the 1-0 win over BATE Borisov in Belarus on Thursday, a result which clinched their place in the last 32 of the Europa League. But Hazard (below) took another battering from the sort of tackles which have become all to familiar to him. He said: “I’m starting to get older, so I have to take more care of my body. I am feeling the wear and tear. I have been playing football as a professional for more than 10 years now. “I am not happy with being kicked but it’s part of football. The referee tries to do his job and I try to do mine. “I guess when I am on the floor I can win free-kicks, so every free-kick is a chance to score.” Hazard, whose side face Everton today, would like more protection from referees. But the striker, who has netted eight goals already this season isn’t holding his breath. He said: “For me that would be better. But for the referee it’s hard to show a yellow card in the first minute. “Everywhere It is the same for me.”