The knocks and bruises are starting to add up for Eden Hazard once again, this time picking up a minor calf injury to go along with his previous minor hamstring strain and the injury that forced him to miss the Sunderland game in mid-December.
A limping Eden Hazard has just left Stamford Bridge. A minor calf injury. #cfc pic.twitter.com/DFMX67Y7xJ
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) February 4, 2017
Which makes his Man of the Match performance all the more impressive. Though if there’s one thing Hazard’s used to by now is getting kicked a lot.
Presumably this knock will not keep him out of next weekend’s trip to Burnley, but we’ll know more once Chelsea get back to training this week.
Eden Hazard suffered a knock on the calf when tried to brush off Coquelin. But he's used to kicks for a while now. #CFC https://t.co/KrrWm51dBk
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) February 5, 2017
Jose Mourinho used to campaign for more protection for his star man from referees, though there’s only so much they can do. Hazard remains England’s most fouled player with 67 calls going his way, though his “lead” over Wilfried Zaha has been reduced to the smallest of margins in recent weeks corroborating the general impression that Hazard has been shying away from contact lately.
No such accusations could be leveled at Eden on Saturday, and he remains one of the most fouled players in all of Europe (top five leagues only). Neymar has drawn a staggering 73 fouls, averaging well over 4 per match.