Hazard enjoying Sarri-ball, but still wants Champions League trophy

Eden Hazard is closing in on seven years as a Chelsea player, just a couple dozen games shy of Top 25 in all-time appearances, 1 goal shy of 100 in all competitions, and exactly one signature from either sealing his Chelsea legend or fulfilling his childhood Real Madrid dream.

There is no mention of the latter topic in part one of the Chelsea website’s big feature interview with Hazard, but the man just a couple weeks shy of his 28th birthday did tangentially address the situation.

“I’m happy with my form and with what we have done so far this season. For four months now we have been enjoying playing football with the team and the new manager.

“I know I play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I can improve a lot in the future I think. I need to score more goals; we need to win more trophies. I won already a lot with Chelsea, but when you play for Chelsea you want big trophies like the Champions League, and to reach finals.”

Indeed, Sarri-ball or no Sarri-ball, winning is our aim. For Hazard personally, if Chelsea were to miss out on the Champions League again, he’d probably be a lot more reluctant to extend. Of course, he himself will have a large say in that — if he can return to his early-season form, we might just secure top four ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United.

But there’s no time to waste, either in terms of the season or his career. He’s starting to feel his age, which is both a good thing (increased leadership) and something that must be carefully managed.

“Football is my job, but I enjoyed it 20 years ago, I enjoyed it 10 years ago and I enjoy it now. In that respect I haven’t changed a lot.

“I prepare for games exactly the same as I did when I was younger. But now the difference is that I am getting older and I need to take more care of my body. I work a bit in the gym with the physio. Five years ago I just enjoyed training and then I went home. Now I take my time. Recovery sessions are important for me now. That’s the big change, but after that I’m the same guy, with the same happiness on the pitch.”

-Eden Hazard; source: Chelsea FC

May he continue to enjoy it at Chelsea for at least the next five years as well!