Hazard: Not a team player? I proved Mourinho wrong

Chelsea star Eden Hazard says that Jose Mourinho’s verbal assault on him in 2014 handed him the incentive to prove his manager wrong.

Hazard inspired the Blues to Premier League and Capital One Cup glory last season and deservedly picked up the PFA Player of the Year gong for his tireless efforts.

Thirteen months ago, after Chelsea exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage to Atletico Madrid, Mourinho singled out the Belgian and claimed that he was “not the kind of player ready to sacrifice himself 100 per cent for the team.”

However, when speaking to L’Equipe, Hazard insists that the Portuguese’s criticism of him was water off a duck’s back – but says that it gave him the impetus to prove his boss wrong.

“He did indeed express himself in the media. I didn’t take it the wrong way. It allowed me to progress as a player.

“I had the impression that I had played a good match. I was maybe a bit at fault for two of the goals we conceded but aside from that I did well. I forgot all about it quickly.”

Chelsea fans – were Mourinho’s comments designed to help Hazard improve? Let us know below.