Sunday Times article:
Eden's big on style
The Belgian youngster, who will cost Chelsea £78m in transfer fee and wages, yearns to be the matchwinner against City today
HE JUDGES himself on goals and assists. Late on Thursday, with a surge of audacity and technique, Eden Hazard decided a European tie in an instant, something Chelsea had wanted when they committed £78m in transfer fee and wages on his developing talent.
As impressive as Hazards ability to change games is how many he plays. Artists are supposed to be delicate. Hazard is durable. Among Premier League footballers only Juan Mata (44) has made more 2012-13 appearances than him (43). At Lille he was renowned for not missing games.
It shouldnt be that way for a 5ft 7in, 10st 12lb dribbler, whose very job involves taking the ball between brute defenders. Like a cyclist successfully weaving the wrong way down a motorway, Hazard somehow stays unscathed. He doesnt want to tempt fate by talking much about avoiding knocks but he has a theory. "Its not, necessarily, that Im brave but Ill go into the tackle and Im light on my feet. I did judo as a kid . . ." he said with a scampish smile. "So I know how to fall."
Bolo Zenden, Chelseas assistant coach, was a champion child judoka and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a taekwondo black belt. "Maybe thats the remedy," Hazard grins. "He doesnt get many injuries, Zlatan, does he? If you want to be a good footballer and avoid injury, before you take the field do martial arts . . . I wouldnt fight Zlatan, though."
He spoke on Friday, the buzz from his inspired Europa League strike versus Sparta Prague still fresh. He was buoyed, full of cheek and laughs.
Matchwinning interventions are what such players crave. "Thats whats expected of me, especially when I come off the bench. I do my absolute best to help win the game. When we were kids we probably all dreamt about dribbling round the entire side then scoring, doing nutmegs all over the field, but in reality its not like that. Some of us grow up to be goalies, defenders.
"Fortunately I get the chance to do decisive things further up the field. I try and enjoy and entertain but at the same time remaining serious and trying to win the game for my team."
Sadly, as they mature, some lose their boldness on the ball, though theres enough of the imp in Hazard, of the boyish stick of rock iness often present in scorer-creators, for his style to stay intact. But pressure is testing and it helps any Chelsea player to know how to fall. Few clubs generate coverage so extreme. Hazard became yet another Chelsea footballer sent tumbling from back-page grace after tangling with a ballboy at Swansea. Having defended himself successfully against a Football Association charge, the fallout is now gone and Hazard reflects on what he learnt.
"I suppose it went to prove the size of Chelsea and that people pay attention to every detail, every incident good and bad. That obviously wasnt a good incident but hopefully its in the past and were not going to speak about it too much in the future. But it did draw my attention to the fact any slight thing is taken note of the world over and you have to be careful." Yet the spotlight is also what drew Hazard to Chelsea.
By 21 he was double footballer of the year in France, itching for a grander stage. He spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini and Roman Abramovich as Manchester United, todays opponents Manchester City and Chelsea wooed him. Hazard, readily tweeting updates on developments, plainly enjoyed being at the centre of a transfer saga. "I think every player, if theyre being honest, loves to see their name in the headlines. Hazard has just done this!" he said, with refreshing candour.
More than the adulation that comes at a leading side, he enjoys the accountability. "I suppose the big [adjustment at Chelsea] is its almost forbidden to lose. You realise youre at such a big club, the demands are so high and all the time, you put yourself on the line. Its good to learn and improve your game at this high level. The fact victory is an absolute must here has been the main change."
What about the Premier League? "I havent found it too much more physically demanding but theres a difference in the intensity. Theres no dead time, no breathing space in a game. Its 100% all the time. In France you might pass the ball around for five minutes and have a rest. But its the style I like. Im young, I like to run about and have an all-action game."
Forty-three games by February, though: isnt he spent? No, Hazard laughed: "I eat pasta every day."
He said recently in Belgium hed give himself 7/10 for his debut season in England. That seems about right. Perhaps he could have come up with more moments like Thursdays. On the other hand, thats a judgment influenced by his transfer fee (£32m) and when you look from the viewpoint of his age (hes less than one year older than Jack Wilshere) and that hes in the first eight months of life in a new country, league and culture, you see startling potential. Nine goals and 10 assists already is a tangible contribution.
He, Oscar and Mata are charged with leading Chelsea towards a subtler style. "You could add to the list Victor Moses, weve all got similar profiles as players. The team that won the Champions League maybe relied more on the strength and power of Didier [Drogba] and Fernando [Torres]. Now the forwards like the ball at our feet and maybe its a more collective style that sometimes comes off, sometimes not. The more we play together the better it will get."
He feels Rafael Benitez has been sensible not to try to change the course of Chelseas evolution, instead focusing on improving the "small details".
"Each coach has different methods, but its the same set of players who all know each other and how we play. Overall, its the managers who [should] adapt to the players they have," Hazard said.
Supporter protests against Benitez? "When youre on the field, of course you hear whats going on from the stands, any booing or jeering. But youre concentrated on the game. You have to respect the fans opinions but were fine with the manager. Were going to do all we can for the manager and fight to win the game for Chelsea FC."
Hazard caused controversy in Belgium early in his career when, on national team duty, he defended a poor show in a training session by remarking that more important was how he played in games. He echoed this when asked about Benitezs sessions. "I wouldnt say theyre any more intense [than under Roberto Di Matteo but its more tactical. He speaks a lot more in training and gets involved more . . . But its all about the matches, isnt it? Training can be rubbish as long as youre winning."
What would make this a successful season? "Personally, more goals and assists. For the team, trophies. OK, the leagues just about out of sight but were still in the Europa League and FA Cup. Those are two strong possibilities. And I suppose in the worst case scenario we have to ensure Champions League qualification."
He talks of life off the pitch. Hes a young dad, with sons Yanis, two, and newborn Leo the same name Torres and Gary Cahill chose for their sons. "Im a bit of a homebird," Hazard said. "Im not really one for shopping and I like spending time with my kids and wife [Natasha]. Sometimes my parents come and stay, sometimes mates. But I like my own space, I watch a lot of TV, Im a simple guy." A simple guy who ask Sparta Prague does special things.
