Chelsea winger Eden Hazard hopes to be among the world’s best
Even though the 23-year-old is far from the levels of Messi and Ronaldo, he has made significant progress since his start at Chelsea.
The Belgium international is Chelsea’s leading scorer this season, and his play has greatly complemented that of fellow attacker Oscar. In the wake of Juan Mata’s £37.1m transfer to Manchester United, the Hazard/Oscar pairing seems well-poised to continue its success as Chelsea’s centerpiece.
Setting the target of someday rising to the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Eden speaks with confidence: “I realise that I can compete with them in the near future if I put in some more effort. I don’t know if I will ever reach their level. It will be hard; they have incredible stats so far, but I accept the challenge.”
Hazard, who was transferred to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2012 from Le LOSC in Lille for £32m, enjoyed periods of really good form while in France. He played at a high level there, too, and was elected best player of la Ligue 1. However, he admits that his focus was more on impressing the crowds than on improving his game. Since arriving at Chelsea, Hazard has shown a greater consistency in his play.
“I’ve matured. Previously I was more worried about the game itself. Football was just a game. I wanted to amuse myself and didn’t bother with what people thought of me.
“But since I have been here at Chelsea, I’ve become more aware of my qualities. Before, I knew I was a good player, but not one of the better players in the world.”
He told the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws: “On the pitch I haven’t changed much. I’m still the same, but I realised that if I want to be among the best in the world, I’ll have to perform consistently, game in, game out.”
Hazard has set a target on the Balon d’Or. If his play continues to blossom under Jose Mourinho, that award may not be too far from sight.
