Guus Hiddink, Chelsea’s interim manager, has said that Eden Hazard is in a ‘dark place’ after his poor showing so far this season.
The 25-year-old Belgian attacking midfielder was the PFA’s Players’ Player Of The Year after last year’s campaign, when his goals and all-round play helped Chelsea win the Premier League title at a canter. His poor performances this time out has led some Chelsea fans to be critical of him, however, with many feeling he was a large part of the reason that Jose Mourinho was sacked in December.
The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ was sacked for the second time by the West London club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, after leading Chelsea to their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1960s. The fact that Hazard has yet to register a goal for the club this season is seen by many fans of the club as a large contributing factor to the Portuguese manager’s sacking.
Hiddink said, “Last year everything was beautiful and this year everything is, for him, dark. The contrast is huge. He was the number one and now he’s at the end of a long row of players. That’s difficult. What do you do?”
Hazard missed this weekend’s home defeat to Manchester City through injury and has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for some time, despite the fact that he has four years left on his contract. Hiddink, thinks he needs to improve his play if he’s hoping to earn a move, however. He said, “The next period will be very interesting for him. Not now, just this season, but also the Euros and the upcoming season. If he is planning (to move) in his career, then he must show it where he is playing now and in the near future. I hope he uses his quality in a way that he doesn’t think too much ahead or back”.