The former England international cites the current Blues No.10 as the best player he has ever shared a dressing room with
Eden Hazard will go down in history as the best player to ever represent Chelsea, according to former Blues midfielder Joe Cole.
Hazard, who has helped the Blues win five major trophies since arriving in west London in 2012, was named PFA Player of the Year in 2014-15 and continues to lead by example for Maurizio Sarri's side.
And former England international Cole, who spent a year with the Belgian while at Lille in 2011-12, always felt Hazard's skill level would see him become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge.
“I said when he signed that he would be the greatest player the club has ever had and I still stand by that. I still believe that,” Cole told the Daily Mirror .
“My team-mates and my colleagues have been amazing but Eden is the best player I've ever worked with.
“When you look at what he's done in the short space of time that he's been there. He's been an unbelievable player. I think he's the best player in the league and I think he's a top, top player and it's important the club keep hold of him.”
Cole’s praise for Hazard is even more remarkable considering who the 37-year-old played with during his seven-year stint at Stamford Bridge.
The former midfielder was a team-mate of the likes of John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba at Chelsea, but ironically it is a player who has since moved to Chelsea, whom Cole considers to be the best he ever played with.
So impressed was the now Chelsea coach with Hazard, he even encouraged him to join the Blues in the summer of 2012.
“I played with him when I was at Lille and he was being courted by all the top clubs in Europe and Harry Redknapp was talking to me about him because Tottenham wanted him,” said Cole.
“Everyone wanted him - Man United, Man City and I just felt Chelsea was the right home for him.
“I told him if he wanted to win trophies which he has done and develop as a player. London is close to Belgium on the Eurostar, I felt it was the right fit and I knew the fans would love him.”
Hazard continues to be linked with a move away from Chelsea, with Real Madrid reportedly keen to bring him to Santiago Bernabeu.
For now, though, his concentration is focused on firing the Blues back into the Champions League, with Sarri's side next in action against Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
whykallar
77
Actually what Joe Cole is saying make sense, at times when i see Hazard playing it make me think of Joe Cole, both have almost the similarities of playing, at times i even takes the two to be same, great players with forces and unique scoring techniques, this been on my mine for a very long time and i been telling my friends who are Chelsea's fans, I'm not that astonished of these compliments from Joe Cole and i hope Hazard can extend his contract with Chelsea to be amongst the legends as he Hazard always saying.
lukzlat910
74
Joe Cole: Hazard is the best Chelsea player I've played with Lampard and Drogba: Hold my beer 🍺 Terry: What's your wife's address??
Nesaiknruy_Legend
51
Sorry but no, Hazard is the best player in the last 3 seasons but hes not even best in the last 5 since that title would go to Juan Mata who people seem to forget was insanely good. As for best Chelsea player Joe Cole played with, it was Frank followed by Didier, Terry, Essien and others. Hazard has been amazing in recent years but dont underestimate the legends of this club. Those guys would better teams like Huddersfield by scored of 6 in the first half..... no offence to Hiddersfield. Bournemouth wouldn't have even scratched a back line of Cole, Terry, Carvalho/Bosingwa and Ivanovic. That era was truly golden....
U.S.A5251987
45
Joe Cole you don’t know what you are talking about, what have Hazard achieved nothing, you cannot compare him to the old players such as Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Zola, even Ashley Cole and Essie’s who were defenders.