Hazard plays coy on Real Madrid, only cares about winning Europa League with Chelsea

In his capacity as Belgium national team captain, and the media duties that are associated with that position, Eden Hazard faced the first round of what is expected to be multiple rounds of questions in the next seven days regarding his Chelsea future.

Unsurprisingly, Hazard did not confirm that he’s leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid, nor did he confirm that he’s staying. It’s mostly the same old, same old, which is to be expected. His focus is on the football, on his own happiness. The future can wait.

“I’m not working on [a move to Real Madrid] right now. I want to shine with Chelsea for a few months and try to win the Europa League. This week I think about the Red Devils [Belgium] and then back to Chelsea. Then we’ll see.”

“We can win the Europa League - we must win the Europa League, or finish in the top four to play in the Champions League next year. The supporters expect that, the staff expect that and the players expect that as well. When I am back at Chelsea I just think about that. I don’t think about what can happen in two, three, four, five months. I don’t know, we’ll see.”

-Eden Hazard; Source: VTM News via Sky Sports

One way or another, Hazard will be playing Champions League football next season. He’ll either lead Chelsea to it, by either winning the Europa League or finishing top four, or he’ll join Real Madrid who are essentially guaranteed to be in it every year. (Or both!)

Hazard has said before, although not recently, that if he ever left Chelsea, he’d want to go out on a high note. Perhaps that still applies. A Europa League trophy would be better than nothing, to be sure.

For now, all we can do is wait and see. Hazard looks to be gone, but until bids are accepted, terms are agreed, and most importantly, papers are signed, anything can happen.