EDEN HAZARD HAS declared Belgium colleague Kevin De Bruyne to be the best player in the Premier League.
Chelsea playmaker Hazard scooped the PFA and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards for his displays during the 2014-15 season and also inspired Antonio Conte’s side to Premier League glory last time around.
Manchester City are leading the charge to dethrone Chelsea this time around and De Bruyne has been their standout performer with a series of impeccable midfield performances.
Speaking ahead of Belgium’s friendly at home to Mexico on Friday, Hazard was quick to concede his compatriot is currently number one in England’s top flight.
“Kevin is definitely the best player in the Premier League at the moment,” he said.
“City are the best Premier League team and Kevin is an important player in [Pep] Guardiola’s system.
“It’s easy to play with Kevin because we’re good players.”
Hazard’s start to the current campaign was delayed as he completed rehabilitation following a fractured ankle suffered on international duty in June.
Although the 26-year-old feels back to his best – his excellent display during last weekend’s 1-0 win over Manchester United would add weight to that view – he was realistic over his likely workload during this round of internationals, with Japan facing Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils next week.
“Will I play both games? It would be silly to play 90 minutes twice but I still want to play,” he said.
“Personally I feel good. There is no apprehension related to my return from injury.
“I am already at the top but I still hope to improve.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Hazard once again spoke of his admiration for Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane but insisted he remains happy at Chelsea.
“Everyone knows the respect I have for the man,” he told RTL. “For the player he was and for the coach he is, he was my idol.
“Of course I don’t know what will happen in my career in the future, but to play under him would be a dream.
“At this time, though, I’m happy at Chelsea. I still have a lot of things to do at Chelsea, and I’m focused on Chelsea.”
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What was unacceptable was the carry on at full time.
@Paul Murphy: those two things can both be true. It’s a joke Armagh are out.
@Ciarán Rice: the rules are that pens are used in this situation. Dont know whats disgraceful about that.
@Ciarán Rice: they were lucky it even went to penalties
@jimmy fitz: lucky yer hole. Armagh finished the game brilliantly and with 14 men. Galway should have seen it out but they couldn’t. Their keeper was awful.
@Ciarán Rice: Galway saw out the penalties though, so it would be a bigger disgrace if they went out, seeing as they won and all.
@Paul Murphy: Armagh gone,no more brawls this year so.
If he wants to talk about what was unacceptable in that game then penalties should be the least of his worries.
Galway won that game hands down, the referee caused all that mess by being tough on Galway and soft on Armagh, Galway were fouled on and off the ball the entire game. The equalising point was scored after the ridiculous 8 mins of added time, of course tempers were flared.
@Shaunagh McCafferty-Donnellan: the Galway keeper caused all the mess. Three absolute howlers
Sean Cavanagh was a good player but his punditry skills are questionable
A great of the game, but talking absolute twaddle here. Lads talking rubbish like this is why we end up with fixture congestion.
If penos are not acceptable then come up with something else that is within the ‘fundementals’ of the game. Free kick competition etc.
Penos are more fun though
@Johnny 5: golden point surely the option here
Clown
@Martin Clancy: couldn’t agree more.
It’s not a joke, they had 90 minutes to beat Galway and didnt manage it. They then lost a test of skill. If they had to play a replay next week everyone would say it’s unfair they had to play x games in row every weekend before a semi final. You cant win
Not a big fan of his but he’s right that its not an appropriate skill to decide a game.
I like the idea of golden point – but I would give possession to one team with a shot clock of say 1 minute and if they score the other team get to have a go – if they dont score or lose possession its all over…..if they do you repeat. Something similar works well in NFL overtime.
@Roy Race: I do like this. You could do a drop off like they do in touch rugby overtime. Every minute both teams lose a player, meaning you’ve loads of space opening up
@Roy Race: all you’ll get there is lads been dragged to the ground far enough out so can score from a free. If they wanted to and use the fundamental of the game(don’t know how kicking a ball at a goal isn’t a fundamental) then like then do a shooting on the run competition. Start on the 21, one on the left, middle and right. The player has to run up pick up the ball and shoot. If they stop, fail on the pick up or miss then no score. 21, 30, 45
@Roy Race: excellent idea
@Roy Race: if a match in regular time could be decided by a penalty then why can’t that be the way it’s decided overall.
@Roy Race: can youninagine the packed defences and the dragging and pulling?
No loss
Good to see the anti north of Ireland brigade are out in full swing this morning. Regardless of the full time incident, started by Galway’s Comer…., eye gouging is totally unacceptable I fully agree. He’s talking about a fundamental fault at this stage… look at the bigger argument here. Do you want the all Ireland final decided like soccer? Now all you Liverpool, United, Celtic etc ‘fans’ might like that. He was looking at the bigger picture. If it was Dublin or Kerry you’d have a different tune
@Austin Shields: rubbish
@John O Reilly: he’s right, I’m sorry for being a *–* but I for one would be chuckling all day if either Dublin or Kerry went out in penalties
@Austin Shields: smacks a bit of anti Ulster whinging. Don’t hear much condemnation regarding Galway’s part in the handbags.
@Ciarán Rice: you have a horn for Galway , you’ve been commenting on this all morning. Where are you from Ciaran?
@Finnster: I’m an Antrim man, unfortunately. I’ve no issue with Galway, I wanted them to win but the narrative seems to be that Armagh were a disgrace regarding the row at full time. Galway were certainly getting stuck in and seem to be getting away with their part in it.
@Ciarán Rice: there was a lot of off the ball stuff and Armagh were doing 90 percent of it . The Mayo man doing the sideline ignored it constantly ( no surprise there ) Comer was targeted by two Armagh lads leaving the pitch and didn’t back down , why should he ?
Where did the eight minutes come from…
…eyes wide open for Heavens sake, ye knew what the format was , stop whingeing
They are not out because of 5 penalties though. They had 90 minutes to win the game and failed as did Galway so they moved to the nuclear option. Both teams were aware of the game possibly going to penalties long before the first whistle.
Sean Cavanagh highlights the penalties as been the disgrace and unacceptable outcome from that game??? You have to wonder sometimes…..
@Ottomaaan: exactly. Sean had no qualms about pulling a player down rugby style vs Monaghan when that lad was through on goal. Listening to him pontificating about what’s acceptable is hypocritical BS.
But it would be fine to be knocked out based on one free kick?
If it wasn’t an Ulster side but a Connacht one losing out, there would be hardly a peep out of him…
Here we go. Another pundit dislikes the actual rules so it’s a disgrace. Sometimes I really do believe the GAA has been afflicted with more than its fair share of whingebags.
Cavanagh didn’t seem to think the brawl was a disgrace?
I agree. Penalties are a joke. Extra time and if still level, a replay.
Give a player the ball on the half way and let them go for goal points don’t count, 5 players off each team. They don’t do much training for penalties I presume but surely they are capable of going for goal that way.
@Robbie Delaney: Galway confirmed that they DID practice and train for penalties.
@Pat Mangan: I know that I’m pretty sure Armagh did aswell but with alot of people giving out about penos what I suggested is probably the better option
The off the ball dirt is over until the league starts and the cider county re-emerges.