Hazard happy at Chelsea despite hinting at summer switch

Eden Hazard claims to be “happy” at Chelsea despite having hinted over the summer that the time was right to make a move to Real Madrid.

The Belgium international has long been linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, with his creative qualities placing him in the ‘Galactico’ mould.

It appeared at one stage as though 2018 would be the year in which a transfer was finally pushed through, with Hazard admitting on the back of World Cup duty that it could be “time to discover something different”.

Chelsea, though, quickly made it apparent that they would not be sanctioning a sale and the 27-year-old has been forced to stay put.

Hazard has no issue with that, telling BBC Sport: “I’m always happy when I play football. 

“After the World Cup I spoke, now I’m still with Chelsea. 

“I just try to give everything for this club. This club gave me a lot so when I’m on the pitch I try to do my best.”

Hazard’s early efforts in the 2018-19 campaign have highlighted why Real are so desperate to sign him, and why Chelsea are reluctant to let him leave.

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A stunning hat-trick in his most recent outing against Cardiff has taken his tally for the season to five efforts in as many games, while he has also moved into the top 10 of all-time goalscorers at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard added: “I’m fresh. I took three weeks off after the World Cup. I think for me, it was enough, so we start the pre-season later. 

“I’m good when I’m playing football. Sometimes I’m tired but on the pitch I try to give everything and at the moment we’re doing well so it’s a pleasure to play.”

Maurizio Sarri is reaping the rewards of having eased Hazard into Premier League action this term, with the Italian considered to be guiding Chelsea in the right direction on the back of five successive wins.

Hazard continued: “He just wants Chelsea to keep the ball and then when we find solutions, find good passes between the lines like Jorginho, [Mateo] Kovacic, [Cesc] Fabregas can do. 

“We have a lot of good players, we’re confident - we shoot, we score! We need to keep this momentum.”