Hazard thrived in a central role playing behind Diego Costa rather than being on the left flank – the result of a conversation with under-pressure manager Jose Mourinho.
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Chelsea enter Tuesday’s crucial clash in good spirits after ending their three-game winless streak in the Premier League by defeating Norwich City 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a Diego Costa goal.
Rumours suggest his relationship with the Blue manager may be strained, yet the Belgian attacking midfielder has denied such claims.
“I don’t have a problem with him”, Hazard said. “I don’t have a problem with him, he is the best manager”. There is no doubt with the squad that Chelsea have that they can close the gap on those above them but they simply must put together some momentum and some wins. When I came in it was a hard season because they were underachieving at that time and were way down the league. “I tried to find out why, but I don’t know”, Hazard said ahead of Tuesday’s match at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The title may not be heading to Stamford Bridge this season, but Chelsea’s hopes of being in the hat for the 2016-17 Champions League campaign are still alive.
After 13 games, it can certainly cannot be described as a fluke that they sit atop the Premier League – and the Foxes will for a few weeks at least be included in every poll about England’s likely Champions League representatives.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Maccabi caused Chelsea some moments of discomfort as a tense Jose Mourinho saw his team’s early fluency desert them.
The latest information from the British government advises tourists to “take extra care and be vigilant when using public transport in Tel Aviv”, saying that there is a “high threat from terrorism” in Israel.
Mourinho insisted that Loftus-Cheek would not be allowed to leave Chelsea on loan in January and believes he has the numbers to disprove any suggestions that he and the club are failing their young players.
Tel Aviv goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic kept his side in the match with quick successive stops of Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta, and it took Chelsea more than half an hour to double its lead, when Willian curled in a free kick.
“Relieved as well. Picking up three points has been a really good feeling”. He needs another fillip and a first goal of the season would help.
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But Matic says they will fight until the end: Matic: “We have until May”.
