EDEN HAZARD’S TRANSFORMATION from Premier League title winner and PFA Player of the Year to Chelsea also-ran surprised the Belgian as much as it did those watching from afar.
The talented forward enjoyed a sparkling 2014-15 campaign, with a 19-goal haul from 52 appearances in all competitions seeing him land prestigious personal and collective honours.
He was, however, to endure a humbling fall from grace last season, alongside many of his Stamford Bridge colleagues.
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Hazard — having been billed as a contender to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the right to be called the best player on the planet – was a shadow of his former self as he was forced to wait until January before opening his 2015-16 goal account.
The 26-year-old admits he performed “like a ghost” as the Blues stumbled their way to a 10th-place finish in the Premier League.
He has been back on form this season, though, and is setting his sights of more major silverware, with nine goals added to a cause that has Chelsea sat five points clear at the top of the table.
Hazard told Fox Sports: “I learned a lot [from last season].
Sometimes you are at the top like we were two years ago and sometimes it is difficult for everyone.
“For me, I was the best player two years ago, but last season I was like a ghost.
I want to be the best again and win titles.”
It is not just the English top-flight crown that Hazard has in sights, though, with the FA Cup very much there to be shot at.
Chelsea have enjoyed considerable success in the competition in recent times — emerging victorious four times in six seasons between 2007 and 2012 — but Hazard only joined after the most recent of those triumphs and is yet to get his hands on the famous trophy.
On the back of a 4-1 third round victory over Peterborough on Sunday, he added: “The league is important, but the FA Cup even more as I’ve never won it.
“So I hope that this season I can win this trophy as I have won the league and the League Cup — now I just need the FA Cup.”
'I was like a ghost' - Hazard reflects on Chelsea struggles in 2015-16
EDEN HAZARD’S TRANSFORMATION from Premier League title winner and PFA Player of the Year to Chelsea also-ran surprised the Belgian as much as it did those watching from afar.
The talented forward enjoyed a sparkling 2014-15 campaign, with a 19-goal haul from 52 appearances in all competitions seeing him land prestigious personal and collective honours.
He was, however, to endure a humbling fall from grace last season, alongside many of his Stamford Bridge colleagues.
Hazard — having been billed as a contender to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the right to be called the best player on the planet – was a shadow of his former self as he was forced to wait until January before opening his 2015-16 goal account.
The 26-year-old admits he performed “like a ghost” as the Blues stumbled their way to a 10th-place finish in the Premier League.
He has been back on form this season, though, and is setting his sights of more major silverware, with nine goals added to a cause that has Chelsea sat five points clear at the top of the table.
Hazard told Fox Sports: “I learned a lot [from last season].
“For me, I was the best player two years ago, but last season I was like a ghost.
It is not just the English top-flight crown that Hazard has in sights, though, with the FA Cup very much there to be shot at.
Chelsea have enjoyed considerable success in the competition in recent times — emerging victorious four times in six seasons between 2007 and 2012 — but Hazard only joined after the most recent of those triumphs and is yet to get his hands on the famous trophy.
On the back of a 4-1 third round victory over Peterborough on Sunday, he added: “The league is important, but the FA Cup even more as I’ve never won it.
“So I hope that this season I can win this trophy as I have won the league and the League Cup — now I just need the FA Cup.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo Eden Hazard Lionel Messi Looking Back PFA Player of the Year Premier League Stamford Bridge Chelsea