HAZARD’S SMELLING BETTER!
Hiddink: He’s no Messi, but Eden is on the mend
EDEN HAZARD smells good, according to Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman has never previously coached the Belgian player and Hazard’s first fortnight under Hiddink was hampered by a hip injury.
But though the Chelsea manager winces at the comparisons that were made for Hazard with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of last season, Hiddink still believes that a desperately disappointing campaign for last year’s Player of the Year can be re-ignited.
Hazard, who returned to the starting XI as a stand-in striker against Manchester United in their last game, has not scored for Chelsea this season but Hiddink senses an eagerness to put that right.
‘I’m not a psychologist who tells players to come in and lie on the couch and I will assess you professionally,’ he said. ‘I have short conversations with most of the players, and you smell how they feel and how eager they are. They are not official sessions. But Eden smells well.
‘He came back with a strong character and wanted to play in the last games. Normally, if a player has been injured, he likes to take time to get into good physical and mental shape, but he was eager to play against Watford.
‘You could see when he was warming up, looking at me, using his eyes to say, “Bring me on, bring me on”. That is an indication he can get back to the performance levels we are used to. He had a difficult game at Old Trafford, where they were searching for him all over the pitch, but he reacted well. His character is very strong. If he keeps doing that, he will come back to the levels we are used to.
‘He can cope with the comparisons (to Messi and Ronaldo) but it’s not always fair. He’s an outstanding player, but he’s a different player also. It’s hard to say he’s on the level of different players. But potentially he’s a highly-qualified player. He has to find his own way. His character is quiet but very determined.’
Hiddink is now getting the measure of his Chelsea squad having overseen two draws following Steve Holland’s win against Sunderland — the three games which followed Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.
Yet, despite being unbeaten in three, Chelsea have still only won two games out of their last 10 in the Premier League and take on a rejuvenated Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park today. At present they look more likely to be fighting relegation than challenging for Champions League places.
Hiddink appears to be more mindful of the size of the task compared to his return in 2009, when Chelsea were still in the top four and had a core of experienced players in Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, John Terry and Petr Cech to revitalise their season.
‘It’s a bit different,’ said Hiddink. ‘I’m not going to say worse or better, but different. It was a bit easier last time because we weren’t down in the table, and there were players with big international experience. Look at the spine of the team: Drogba, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, John Mikel Obi, Alex; the centre was strong. A different team with different personalities.’
Hiddink says he needs his team to assume more tactical responsibility and leadership on the pitch, as the 2009 vintage did.
‘That’s what I’m asking now of players,’ said Hiddink. ‘I like to see some take the lead from central defence into midfield. Tactically you can do a lot with two or three words to your team-mate in front of you. I’m asking these guys to take the lead. But you cannot blame these guys for a lack of commitment.’