EDEN HAZ GOT EURO MISSION
ANTONIO CONTE believes Eden Hazard is ready to prove he is a Champions League serial thriller. Hazard fractured his ankle while training for his country in June and has only been able to make one start for Chelsea, in the 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. He has yet to score in his four substitute appearances in the Premier League and Europe, but is primed to start against Atletico Madrid in the first Champions League game at the new, 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
The Blues boss said: “This competition brings you to another level. I think he has all the possibilities to do this.
“He’s a really top player. Now he’s totally fit and in contention for this game. I think it’s the right moment.”
Hazard, 26, is currently in talks over a new £300,000-aweek deal to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge. The deal would make the Belgium winger easily the best-paid player in the club’s history.
After a poor 2015-16 campaign, Hazard bounced back to form in spectacular fashion last season with 16 goals to help Chelsea reclaim the Premier League title.
In the Champions League, however, he has struggled. While the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have ripped up the record books, Hazard has not scored since March 2015.
It is a competition in which he remains desperate to defy his doubters. Conte added: “Last season, Eden played a really important season, played very well and was very important for us in winning the league.
“He showed in every game great talent, to be a really good player. He is a top player.
“I think this competition is very important for him.”
Chelsea have also underperformed in the Champions League since winning the trophy for the first time in 2012, failing to get past the last-16 in three of their last four appearances in the competition.
Their struggles have coincided with a general decline of English sides in Europe, in contrast to Spanish teams, who have won the Champions League four years in a row and comprised six of the last eight finalists.
English teams have made a flying start in this year’s competition, however, and Conte believes the tide will turn... but stressed that progress will not come immediately.
“Spanish sides are dominating in Europe and it means they’re very, very strong. I think we need to try and change this dynamic and history,” he added.
“To win the Champions League you have to build season by season, improve your team, gain experience, and then try to be competitive. Everyone wants to do their best.”