Eden Hazard vows to repay Chelsea fans after his dismal last season and get back to his best for new boss Antonio Conte
The Belgian midfielder had a disastrous season last time around but is ready to put it all behind for his club
EDEN HAZARD has vowed to be the best again — and wants to pay off a debt to Chelsea fans.
The Belgian midfielder had a disastrous season last time around, despite scooping all three player-of-the-year awards during the club’s title-winning 2014-15.
But Hazard, 25, wants to put it all behind him and promised to restore his reputation as the fans’ No 1.
He said: “I want to be the best, like I was two years ago. We’ve got to show to everyone we’re Chelsea, we’re big players, a big team and we didn’t finish in a good place last season. Now we want to do better and win the Premier League.”
Some Chelsea fans turned on Hazard last season, calling him a “rat” and “snake” after boss Jose Mourinho was sacked.
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And Hazard — who was linked with Real Madrid — is determined not to end his time at Chelsea being remembered for last season.
He said: “I said, after a season like that, I wanted to stay because I didn’t want to finish like this.
“If I must leave Chelsea one day, I hope I can finish well here and be a champion again.”
Hazard believes his poor form last season was down to tiredness and a niggling groin injury.
He admitted: “I played a very bad season. It’s easy to say now I was tired. Even when I’m not at the maximum level I want to play well. It’s not easy to play with a small injury in England as the game is very difficult. But this season I’m ready.”
New Blues boss Antonio Conte has made a good impression with gruelling training sessions on their Los Angeles trip.
Hazard added: “It’s good. He talks a lot to the players. We’re almost ready. And we can’t wait for the season to start.”
Former Manchester United and City striker Carlos Tevez confirmed Conte asked him to join Chelsea.
Tevez, who decided to stay at Boca Juniors, said: “He said, ‘Come with us, let’s fight together and win the Premier League. We need someone like you to be a leader’.
“But I told him I can’t leave Boca like this.”