Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard expressed his delight after finalising his deal to Chelsea yesterday and revealed why he chose the west London club over Manchester United.
The 21-year-old is tipped as one of Europe’s brightest young prospects and was highly coveted, so it’s something of a coup that we have managed to sign him and I’m delighted that he’s joined the ranks at Stamford Bridge as well as being relieved that the saga is finally over.
Hazard spoke to the club’s official website:
“It’s a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to get started and for the season to start so I can meet my new teammates, the supporters and all the people who are involved.
“I want to play as many games as possible, score as many goals as possible and win a place in the hearts of the supporters.
“Ultimately, for a player it’s all about winning things; I want to win as many trophies as possible, which is another reason why I came here as Chelsea have been winning things for a long time now, and I hope to win many more during my time here.”
There was a lot of interest in the player and he says Chelsea Champions League triumph was definitely a factor in his decision:
“It’s true that initially there were a number of clubs in for me, but when Chelsea won the Champions League I thought why not? It was a complicated decision with lots of different factors involved, but the fact that they have great players and are European champions, also coming to London, I know people here already and there are a few French speakers, I think I have made the right decision.”
Some have questioned if Hazard has what it takes to make the step up from the French league into the Premier League but he believes it’s unfair for some to underestimate France’s top flight:
“People tend to talk about the French league as if it’s not of a high standard, but I disagree. I think it’s one of the best leagues in Europe, there are some very strong teams, particularly in defence, it’s always difficult to score goals.
“The biggest differences will be in the stadiums and atmospheres, and the fact that overall, players will be technically better.”
Former Chelsea boy Joe Cole also discussed things with him:
“I spoke to Joe Cole and what he said above all was that Chelsea was the right club for me. As somebody who loves the club himself, he said he could really see me in the shirt, so when I see him next I’ll tell him he was right.”
We do not yet know what Hazard’s squad number will be but I imagine he will play in the number 10 role, perhaps dovetailing with Juan Mata, who was successful in the playmaking role last season. With the likes of Hazard and Mata in the team Fernando Torres won’t have any excuse to start finding the net on a regular basis and we need a striker who is going to score around 30 goals a season.
Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s second signing of the summer after Marko Marin and the transfer window has not even opened yet, with rumours of Hulk and a new right-back on the way. What are your opinions of Hazard and what sort of impact do you think he will have on our squad? – Have your say in the comments section below
Brilliant because he brings all the qualities with him we have been missing to be able to play the slick attacking football our clubs has been wanting too for so long.
I mean how many attacks brock appart last season because somebody couldn’t control the ball right or somebody couldn’t play the last pass (mostly Malouda, Ramires, Bosingwa)?
I mean to be honest we have been lacking players with genuine class with the ball at their feet.
Mata has it, Torres has it, Luiz has it, Cahill has it, Mikel has it and even Terry has it but otherwise (Lampard is a special case, you can add him if you like i wouldnt) the others lack this attribute.
Some have other qualities that make them top class players for some certain games (Ramires, Ivanovic, Cole, Lampard, with time Sturridge and Lukaku),
but if we have to breakdown an opponent who is parking the bus we need first and foremost players who can knock the ball around quickly and who can do the unpredictable, win 1 on 1 situations or smash one from outside the box (Torres, Mata), players who can start a move (Mikel, Terry, Luiz, Cahill).
So now with Hazard we have besides Torres and Mata another player who has that quality, therefore i am very pleased we have him because not only has he got the technique he also has pace and that combination (see Ronaldo, Nani, Messi) makes him even better because Hazard is also useful if we play on the counter attack.
(Mata, Torres) refers to all the qualities besides smashing from outside the box… that would be Hulk 😀
I think its a great signing, we need players like him. Just wonder were he’ll play?! We can’t move Mata from the middle nr 10 role, he is better there than out on the wing! So I would hope for Hazard to play out wide left. I’d like us to get Hulk to play out wide right. Then I’d like for us to add van der Wiel. Then I’d like for us to keep the 433/451 formation. Cech in goal. Van der Wiel RB, Luiz and Terry at the back and Cole at LB. Mikel to hold. Ramires runs up and down, he’s got the legs, box to box, he’s got the stamina. Mata further forward in creative role. Hazard and Hulk out wide and push forward in 433. With Torres up front. Then a bench with Turnbull, Ivanovic, Cahill, Essien, Lampard, Marin, Sturridge. With the correct management we will be unstoppable!!
I hope, new signing eden hazard and marko marin will help to win every games. (especially) man-united.and torres will score many goals. But, chelsea should buy ajax midfielder christian eriksen instead of trying to buy lucas moura. sturridge is selfish.
team line-up should be like this coming 2 years. GK courtois ivanovic luiz cahill bertrand eriksen(now ajax) ramires mata hazard torres bench: marin,piazon,debruyne,bruma,hutchinson.
My starting line up next season:
Cech,cole,Gregory, Terry, Luiz, Romeu, Ramires, Mata, Hazard, Hulk, Torres.
Bench:Turnbull, Essien, Ivanovic, Marin, Sturridge, Cahill, Lampard.
Where is mikel and bertrand? God forbid this kind of mistaken line up! May it never happen!
Wot is Essien stil doing in chelsea? He should go so dat d likes of Romeu and Mikel will have enof chance to play? Harzad is a gud player, he is fast and skilful so we need him at d wings(hope he has a gud cross). My team A: chech,ivanovic,cahil/luis,teri,cole,mikel,ramires,mata,harzad,hulk,torres. My team B:tombul,hurchinson,bertrand,chaloba,VDW,romeu,merieles,marin,lampard,sturidge,lukaku/piazon
Hazard should prove to be an excellent signing for Chelsea. Although he was voted player of the season last term, Juan Mata was flogged to death and looked ‘ordinary’ if not ‘tired’ in some games after Xmas. The new Manager will be able to rest Mata and Hazard from time to time with Marin, Lamps and Meireles in the wings waiting. I just hope with these new signings some of Chelsea’s youngsters like Lucas Piazon, Lewis Baker and John Swift are given the chance to show just how good THEY ARE as well.