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Tag: Eden Hazard

  • Eden Hazard retires at 32

    Eden Hazard retires at 32

    Eden Hazard has confirmed his decision to retire from football at 32-years-old, via a post on social media.

    The 32-year-old has been without a club since he was released by Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer, having made just 76 appearances for the club.

    Following his Madrid departure, a return to elite-level football looked to be off the cards as Hazard made multiple suggestions he may hang up his boots for good.

    The winger did reportedly have some English clubs interested in him after leaving Madrid, but concerns about his fitness seemed to be a major barrier.

    And now, via a lengthy post on his Instagram page, the former Chelsea star has confirmed his decision to retire from the game for good. 

    The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star wrote: “You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time.

    “After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer.

    Read Also: Eden Hazard announces retirement from football

    “I was able to realise my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world.

    “During my career I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates – thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all.

    “I also want to thank the clubs I have played for: LOSC, Chelsea and Real Madrid; and thank the RBFA for my Belgian Selection.

    “A special thank you to my family, my friends, my advisors and the people who have been close to me in good times and bad.

    “Finally, a huge thank you to you, my fans, who have followed me for all these years and for your encouragement everywhere I have played.

    “Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you off the field soon my friends.”

  • Chelsea beat Arsenal to win UEFA Europa League

    Eden Hazard scored two goals and made another to help Chelsea thump London rivals Arsenal in Baku and win the 2018/2019 UEFA Europa League.

    Victory gave Blues boss Maurizio Sarri the first trophy of his managerial career and ensured the Gunners will miss out on next season’s UEFA Champions League.

    With only about 5,000 fans from both sides able to make it to Azerbaijan, there was an eerie atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, which appeared less than half full.

    That was the surreal setting for a match played 2,500 miles away from both teams’ home, and the game itself was devoid of action before the break before bursting into life early in the second half.

    Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock when he met Emerson’s clipped cross with a powerful near-post header that zipped past Petr Cech.

    Cech, also facing his old side and playing the final match of his career, could do nothing about Chelsea’s second goal either, with Pedro sweeping home a Hazard cross.

    Hazard made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon after, sending Cech the wrong way after Ainsley Maitland-Niles fouled Giroud.

    Read Also: Breaking: UEFA Europa League Final: Arsenal, Chelsea release starting XI

    Substitute Alex Iwobi briefly gave Arsenal hope with a powerful first-time strike moments after coming on.

    But Hazard quickly made sure of victory, playing a one-two with Giroud and firing home Chelsea’s fourth goal.

    The Belgium forward said after the game it was likely to be his Chelsea “goodbye” as he continues to be linked to Real Madrid.

    Chelsea’s triumph brought them their fifth European title and their first since they won the Europa League in Amsterdam in 2013.

    An emotional Sarri celebrated with his players on the pitch, but his future remains in doubt despite ending his first season at Stamford Bridge on a successful note.

    BBCSports

     

  • It’s time to say goodbye – Hazard

    Eden Hazard suggested he had played his final game for Chelsea after his two goals helped the club win the Europa League.

    “We will decide in a few days and the only target in my mind tonight was to win this final. I have made my decision already and now I’m waiting on both clubs,” said the Chelsea ace.

    Read Also: No Chelsea decision until end of season, says Hazard

    “I think it is a goodbye, but in football you never know. My dream was to play in the Premier League and I have done that for one of the biggest clubs so maybe now it is the time for a new challenge.”

    The Belgian has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

  • No Chelsea decision until end of season, says Hazard

    Eden Hazard has told ESPN that he will make a decision on his Chelsea future at the end of the season — and that it would be “hard” for the club to miss out on Champions League football for a second year running.

    Hazard has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid, with his Chelsea teammate Gonzalo Higuain telling ESPN that it would be hard to stop the Belgian from leaving Stamford Bridge if he has his mind set on a move to the Spanish giants.

    Chelsea have reportedly set a price of £100 million for the forward, although manager Maurizio Sarri said following Hazard’s sensational performance against West Ham United on Monday that £100m would be “too cheap” for the 28-year-old.

    “I’m just focused on Chelsea,” Hazard told ESPN.

    “One month to play, top four, try to win the Europa League. For the fans I think the most important thing is when they see me on the pitch they just think that my head is with Chelsea.

    “So we’ll see after.”

    Chelsea face a battle to get back into the Champions League ahead of next season.

    Hazard’s two goals against West Ham sent Chelsea third in the Premier League table and back above Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for the top four but the side have a difficult run in with trips to Liverpool and Manchester United to come.

    The club could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where they face Slavia Prague in their quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.

    If Chelsea miss out it would be the second year in a row that had failed to qualify for the competition — after they finished 5th under Antonio Conte last season.

    And with the club unable to sign any players until July 2020 due to a two-window FIFA transfer ban, Hazard said Chelsea would be at a disadvantage if they are left playing in the Europa League again next season.

    “Two years in a row not playing Champions League is hard for the players but also for the club,” Hazard said.

    “Chelsea has to play in Champions League every year, but it’s hard because we are not the only team that is trying to play Champions League.

    “But that’s why we are doing everything at the moment to try and stay in the top four.” (ESPN)

  • Chelsea fans flag off operation keep Hazard at all cost

     

    Eden Hazard debate to leave or not to leave appears to have finally taken a new twist following his breathtaking brace against Watford on Monday night

    Eden Hazard demonstrated his class once again on Monday night as he single-handedly inspired Chelsea to victory over West Ham.

    The Belgian playmaker scored both goals as Chelsea recorded a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge to move into third in the Premier League.

    Hazard’s first goal on 24 minutes was a thing of beauty as he waltzed through West Ham’s midfield and defence before firing past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiansk

    The goal was so good it had his team-mates and pundits purring. And their sentiments were echoed on social media.

    Hazard could leave the Blues this summer with Real Madrid leading the way for his services but Chelsea fans are hopeful they can keep him, but fans are no longer interested in seeing his back as they took to the social media to flag off operation keep him at all cost campaign. Some don’t even mind to have the take home of some players reduced just to have a plateful for Hazard.

    ‘Give him 500k please, we need him,’ tweeted @GreatNalex. ‘Take [Marcos] Alonso’s wages/money and give him please.’ [sic] ‘Do whatever you can to keep this man,’ wrote @JaffarMuhamma15.

    ‘Cut them alonso, [Willy] caballero and jorginho wages to give him what he wants pleeease.’ [sic]@uphamcorey put it bluntly in block capitals to emphasise the point: ‘THAT IS WHY WE CAN’T SELL THE MAN. NEW CONTRACT NOW! Meanwhile, @djnelcraze said: ‘Give him a lifetime contract, release [Danny] drinkwater and [Gary] cahil and give Hazard all their wages.’ [sic] Coach Maurizio Sarri agrees that this is a no sale situation. His manager Maurizio Sarri described his brilliant Belgian as irreplaceable.

  • Superb Hazard double hands Chelsea 2-0 win over West Ham

    Eden Hazard’s stunning individual performance earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Ham United which hoisted them into third spot in the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday.

    The Belgian wizard tormented West Ham throughout at Stamford Bridge and scored both goals to move Chelsea above Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish.

    Hazard danced through West Ham’s defence in the 24th minute to put Maurizio Sarri’s side in front, and Gonzalo Higuain should have buried the visitors before half-time.

    Read also: Chelsea to Fenerbahce: Raise your bid on Moses or forget permanent deal

    West Ham improved after the break and Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson both had good chances to equalise, but Hazard sealed the points in the 90th minute with a clinical finish.

    A third successive victory means Chelsea have 66 points from 33 games, while Tottenham and Arsenal have 64 and 63 points respectively having played a game less.

    West Ham are 11th with 42 points from 33 games.(NAN)

  • EDEN HAZARD: I don’t care about goals

    Chelsea’s Eden Hazard wants his reputation as one of the world’s great players to be based on titles rather than goal records as he embraced being put on the same pedestal as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

    Hazard scored what could be the goal of the season against Liverpool at Anfield in midweek, further demonstrating his peak form since the World Cup.

    His manager, Maurizio Sarri, thinks Hazard can score 40 this season, but Hazard does not want his contribution measured by his strike rate.

    “I don’t have (goal) targets to be fair – my only target is to win something every year. I want to win trophies,” he said.

    “It is not important how many goals I score. You know me, I don’t care about that. I just want to enjoy my football and win games.

    “At the moment I am scoring goals, that is why everyone is talking for me to be in the top three (players).

    “It is a pleasure to be there. I just want to keep going. I am the same player as two years ago, three years ago. I’m now in a period that I score a lot of goals, and hopefully I keep on scoring. It won’t be simple. Definitely not in the Premier League. I’m feeling good since the FA Cup final. Something you see. I play in strong teams, here with Chelsea and with Belgium who were very good at the World Cup, and that helps me to perform better too.”

    Team mate Ross Barkley says Hazard is currently the world’s best and puts the team’s needs above personal accolades.

    “Compared to them (Ronaldo and Messi), they are probably a lot more selfish than Eden is,” said Barkley.

    “He is not a selfish player. He is happy getting two assists and the team winning. What he has done against Liverpool, honestly he’s doing it every day in training.

    “He is establishing himself in the top three players in the world. At the minute, he’s probably the best player in the world.”

    The Belgian is the star for @ChelseaFC once again as he cuts through the @LFC defence to put his team ahead!

    Hazard acknowledged the influence of Sarri’s style on his game. Chelsea are playing a possession-based game now, but the 27 year-old was careful not to sound disrespectful to the former managers who brought the title to Stamford Bridge.

    “You see it on the pitch. We have different players, players that we didn’t have last season, players who like to have the ball,” said Hazard.

    “We have more possession than before. The attacking players benefit from that. We get more touches, more opportunities to create chances, to dribble more, more chances to shoot on target. Sarri is a manager who likes to have the ball. That makes a big difference. Besides that, he’s an Italian. Just like Conte there’s a lot of tactics and we have to work hard in training.

    “But I don’t feel like saying that I didn’t have any freedom under my previous managers. Conte and Mourinho also let me do what I wanted in the last third. That’s why I could excel under them, too. Defensively, I know what I have to do.”

    On his winning goal at Anfield, ending Jurgen Klopp’s flawless start to the season, Hazard said: “It’s one of the most beautiful goals I have ever scored. But I have already made a few nice ones in my career. It feels special, though. Because it’s at Anfield, against a big club like Liverpool that, on top of that, had won all of their games this season. When I got the ball on the touchline I only thought about scoring that goal. I didn’t want to go to a shoot-out session. So that played in my mind all of the time.”

     

    Such is Sarri’s impact, Hazard joked he would be happy to work with him during the international breaks, too.

    “I don’t want to be disrespectful towards Roberto Martinez, but maybe, when his spell at Belgium is over, we can start thinking about Sarri,” he said.

    Despite the encouraging results and mood at Chelsea, Hazard is yet to commit his long-term future to the club.

    “I haven’t signed a contract. Not yet. Not yet,” he said.

    Hazard added: “Even when the things are not going well, I try to be happy when I am on the pitch. That is why I like football. At the moment, we are winning games so it is more easy to smile but when I am on the pitch I just try to be happy. At the moment it is good. I am scoring goals, we are playing good, so I am enjoying it but we will see in the future.

    “We won the last FA Cup last year. We know the Premier League is going to be hard. City and Liverpool, they have a lot of good players.”

     

    Culled from The Telegraph

  • Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Two goals from Belgian wizard Eden Hazard and another by Victor Moses earned Chelsea a 3-0 home win over struggling West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League on Monday.

    It was a result which eased pressure on Coach Antonio Conte following two defeats for the champions.

    The lively Hazard twisted his way goalwards in the 25th minute before playing a neat one-two with new signing Olivier Giroud.

    The Frenchman held off defenders to place the ball for the Belgium international to smack it past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

    Moses added Chelsea’s second after sprinting down the wing and laying the ball off to Cesc Fabregas, whose flick was deflected back into the Nigerian’s path.

    Hazard’s second goal wrapped up the points as Chelsea moved back into the top four.

    In the 71st minute, he received a pass from substitute Alvaro Morata, and linked past defender Jonny Evans to lift the ball into the net.

    Read Also: EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man  Chelsea

    Chelsea has 53 points from 27 games, one point ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a point behind third-placed Liverpool in the race for UEFA Champions League qualifying spots.

    A beaming Conte, whose side had lost their previous two Premier League games at home to Bournemouth and at Watford, hurried round the pitch after the whistle, shaking hands.

    The Italian, who won the title in his first season in charge, has had a strained relationship with the club hierarchy since last summer after disagreements over buying players.

    There have been suggestions he would leave at the end of the season.

    But his players, so lacklustre against Watford, looked energised after a week’s rest.

    France international Giroud, who joined last month from Arsenal, provided a target man and combined well with Hazard and Fabregas.

    He left the pitch to applause in the 70th minute, his head swathed in bandages after he was kicked in a goalmouth melee in the first half.

    “He is a great target man,” Hazard said later on. “Maybe one of the best in England. So, we can pass the ball and go around him.

    “He is a good point of reference. We have plenty though as we have him, Alvaro and I can play striker also.”

    It was a miserable night for Alan Pardew’s West Brom side, who has won once in their last 25 Premier League games.

    In spite of a lively start they managed one shot on target.

    The disappointment was compounded with the loss of Daniel Sturridge barely three minutes into the game.

    The striker, on loan from Liverpool, limped off to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez.

    The visitors also failed to convert good chances that fell to Jonny Evans, Salomon Rondon and Rodriguez.

    Chelsea is still competing on three fronts.

    They face Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday before meeting FC Barcelona in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Feb. 20.

    NAN

     

     

  • EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man Chelsea

    EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man Chelsea

    Watford scored three late goals on Monday to win 4-1 in Javi Gracia’s first home game in charge and increase the pressure on Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte.

    The Blues played an hour with 10 men after Tiemoue Bakayoko’s red card capped off a dreadful individual 30-minute performance — in which he gifted Watford four chances.

    The Hornets — who had only won one of their previous 12 English Premier League games — led controversially as Gerard Deulofeu went down easily under goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ challenge.

    Troy Deeney went on to score the penalty kick.

    Chelsea, who brought on Olivier Giroud for a debut in the second half, scored an undeserved equaliser when Eden Hazard curled home brilliantly from 25 yards.

    Two minutes later, Daryl Janmaat scored a fantastic goal of his own when he played a one-two with Roberto Pereyra.

    He went on to beat another couple of defenders before scoring with his weaker left foot.

    Deulofeu added another when he ran from halfway before his shot was deflected home by Gary Cahill — and then Pereyra scored a fourth from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s through ball.

    It was Chelsea’s second consecutive defeat by three goals in the Premier League, following their 3-0 home reverse by Bournemouth.

    Read Also: Chelsea thrashed in   Watford

    Deulofeu later said “we are happy for these three points. The team fought too much at the beginning and we are worth this win. I’m so happy for my first game at home.’’

    On the penalty kick he won in the first half, he said “Daryl Janmaat gave me a good ball and I think it’s a clear penalty kick. He (Courtois) touched me… I think.”

    On his part, Janmaat said: “I know I can score goals, I did it in the past last year against Chelsea as well. It is really good

    “I am happy for the team and it is a really important win. We pressed them well. We won a lot of second balls.

    “Last week in Stoke we had a good result, a point there, and three points today. We have to build on from here because we want to be safe as soon as possible.”

    Watford boss Javi Gracia could not hide his joy, saying “you always work for nights like today. But today has been an unforgettable night. I am very proud of my players and very happy for our fans.”

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, when asked about his future with the club after two successive defeats, retorted: “My position? It is the same. I stay here, try to work and put all myself in the work.

    “The pressure? Which pressure? What is the pressure? I work — if this is enough it is, OK. Otherwise the club has to take another decision.”

    NAN

  • Hazard returns against Arsenal Barkley to wait

    Hazard returns against Arsenal Barkley to wait

     

    Eden Hazard is set to return for Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal but new recruit Ross Barkley is not yet ready for first-team action.

    Hazard sat out Saturday’s 0-0 FA Cup draw at Norwich City having sustained a knock to the calf but is available to feature when the Gunners visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

    The Belgium star won and converted a penalty in the midst of a dazzling performance when Chelsea drew 2-2 at Arsenal in the Premier League last week.

    “Eden is in a good physical condition. He had a little problem but he is in contention for the game,” head coach Antonio Conte told a pre-match news conference.

    Barkley’s situation is not so straightforward, with the new £15million signing from Everton yet to play competitively this season following hamstring surgery.

    Conte is impressed by how the England international has taken to training with the Premier League champions but urged caution over his progress.

    “Wednesday night, I think is very soon for him but his physical condition is good. He has started to do the training sessions with us to understand our idea of football.

    “He must be pleased but he needs a bit of time to work on the physical and tactical aspect. But I think his condition is very good.

    “It is very difficult to say when he will play but, at the same time, I am very positive because the player is a good guy and showing great will and desire to work and help us very soon.

    “It’s positive and I am very happy to have Ross with us for the rest of the season.”

    Both legs of the semi-final will use the video assistant referee (VAR) system after the technology made its English debut in Brighton and Hove Albion’s 2-1 FA win over Crystal Palace on Monday.

    VAR has been used in Serie A this season and, although the implementation has not been without its problems, Conte feels the system has proved a positive overall in his homeland and can make a favourable impression in England.

    “I think this is a good opportunity to improve our football but at the same time it will be very important to have a bit of time to use this new option in the right way,” he said.

    “I am positive because, when there is a big mistake it is right to try and correct a big mistake.”

    Conte added: “At the start [in Serie A] it wasn’t easy to accept this type of solution, to stop the play and to wait for the right decision form the VAR.

    “But I think this could be a good solution because you reduce the mistakes, especially big mistakes, and I think it’s right for football to have a game with less mistakes.”