Hazard’s farewell
We did something amazing together
Those still searching for hints over Eden Hazard’s future had plenty to ponder as the Belgian looked forward to what he clearly expects to be the final game of his seven-year Chelsea career. Real Madrid will be encouraged as they prepare to make a new bid for Hazard after tomorrow night’s
Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku.
Hazard used the past tense to claim that he and Chelsea “did something amazing together” and admitted a “last trophy” would provide the perfect farewell if he is granted his wish.
It was at 9.41pm on May 28, 2012 that Hazard posted a message on Twitter that read: “I’m signing for the Champions League winner” to confirm his £32 million move from Lille to Chelsea.
Given that Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and a host of European clubs showed a strong interest, it could be argued that the Hazard deal remains the last time Chelsea beat all of their rivals to a major signing.
There have been no regrets on either side. Hazard will leave with two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and potentially two Europa League winners’ medals, although he missed the 2013 final through injury.
“I had a chance to sign for Man United, Man City, Tottenham but I think I made the right decision,” Hazard said. “My agent at the time was talking with Arsenal, but not like with Chelsea.
“I spoke with the owner, with [Roberto] Di Matteo and we talked about everything. I had [Didier] Drogba on the phone and Joe Cole told me this was the best club.
“I was a little bit scared as when I came Didier left and when you have Didier in the team, for sure, you win a trophy. But at the end I played with top players and if you look at my seven years at Chelsea we did something amazing together. We won trophies together and I am just happy.”
When it was put to Hazard that winning the Europa League and playing in this year’s final would bring him full circle after having to watch the 2013 final from the sidelines, he said: “That would be a nice last trophy.
“I just want to win the trophy, that is it. It does not matter if I score. If it is my last game, I hope to bring the trophy.
“It is a European competition so for me, the club, the manager, the fans, it is something important. When you play a final it does not matter whether it is the Champions League, Europa League or League Cup, you just want to win, you just want to bring the trophy home and celebrate that.”
Asked if that would be the perfect goodbye, he replied: “Yes.”
As important as the trophies have been to Hazard and Chelsea, the 28-year-old has also provided the stardust in an era when the club have seen legends such as Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech depart.
Apart from in Chelsea’s dreadful 2015-16 season, Hazard has consistently been the club’s best player and has provided moments of magic that will live long in the memory of the club’s fans.
And yet there will still be a sense that he could have been even better in a blue shirt, having admitted that he has frustrated every manager he has worked under and will continue to infuriate coaches.
Perhaps the fact Hazard shows little interest in statistics explains why he has never managed to finish the season with the 30 or 40 goals that Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri have all thought he is capable of.
A goal in the Europa League final would mean Hazard hits the 20-mark for the first time in his Chelsea career and make this his best season statistically.
But the forward said: “In terms of goals and assists, yes this has been the best. But, for me, a good season is not whether I scored 40 goals. I want to win something. I don’t think it is my best season to be fair. I don’t look on just about statistics. I think I can still improve.
“My best was when we won the first league [2014-15] under Jose. The way I was playing for me was the best. I was more consistent.
“I look at the statistics because the media ask me all the time. When we watch the television, it says, ‘Eden Hazard scored this…’ I don’t really care, I just want to enjoy myself on the pitch.
“An example is with Belgium, I played my best game against Brazil and I didn’t score or make an assist. I just want to try to do my best.”
It is that laid-back attitude that has allowed Hazard to keep performing, even after publicly admitting that he felt it may have been time to leave Chelsea after last summer’s World Cup.
There will be no sense of distraction when Hazard steps on to the pitch in Baku, despite already having seen his brothers Thorgan and Kylian complete moves in the past few weeks.
“Of course I can put it aside,” Hazard said. “You know how I am. I have done it during a full season right now and I have played reasonably well. So I stay in that modus, just thinking about football. After the final we will see what happens.”
When it was put to him that two Hazards have already moved this summer, Real Madrid’s top target grinned mischievously and replied: “There’s only one who’s missing then, me!”