Chelsea star Eden Hazard has admitted he is starting to feel the wear and tear on his body and has pleaded with referees to offer more protection.
Hazard emerged as a young talent at Lille at the age of 16 and this month marks ten years as a professional. During that time, he has become accustomed to rough treatment by bamboozled opponents attempting to come to terms with his rare skill.
Hazard returned to the Chelsea starting line-up in the victory over BATE Borisov on Thursday night. He played only 62 minutes as he is eased back into the team after troubles with his back sustained by a succession of fouls committed byManchester United players in the 2-2 draw last month. Hazard received more robust treatment from BATE and at one point was sent hurtling towards the dugout.
Hazard said: 'I'm 27 now and starting to get older, so I have to take more care of my body. I am feeling (the wear and tear) as I have been playing football as a professional for more than ten years now. It is part of the game. We have a lot of physios, so I will just start with more treatment and training. I have been doing yoga, for example, since I have been at Chelsea.'
Hazard has noticed that teams increasingly employ the tactic of tag fouling him - a strategy that sees different players make niggling fouls on him repeatedly rather than risk a man-marking job where referees are more likely to give yellow cards.
Asked if he would like more protection, Hazard said: 'For me that would be better. For the referee, it's hard to show a yellow card in the first minute maybe. Everywhere it is the same for me, both for club and country. I am not happy to be fair but it's part of football. The referee tries to do his job and I try to do mine. I guess when I am on the floor I can win free kicks so every free-kick with Chelsea is a chance to score more goals.'
Hazard will start for Chelsea against Everton on Sunday, while Alvaro Morata will displace Olivier Giroud and Mateo Kovacic is likely to replace Ross Barkley. Chelsea are unbeaten in all competitions since losing the Community Shield and could go top of the Premier League if Manchester United can win at neighbours Manchester City.
'I feel good,' Hazard added. 'No more pain the back. We are in good shape in the Europa League and the Premier League and we want to keep winning. Everton is an important game. We want to keep playing like this, scoring goals and winning like this.'
jaydlnpz
264
These people busy critizing hazard just because you don't like him. For all I know hazard gets more fouled than any player in Europe, cause his game involves taking on players and beating them to open up space for himself and/or teammates. But the opponents usually don't know how to respond to his attack and choose to just seriously tackle him. The guy never complains, and he never dives, but now that he speaks out people are busy comparing his age and achievement to messi. I mean the guy just answered a question, give him a break.
mueadeinos
239
For the sake of his career, he should move to LA liga.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
218
People moaning that Messi didn't ask for protection. He plays in a league where he's constantly protected 24/7. What else can he ask for. If you watch every Chelsea game, Hazard is getting hacked at 24/7 it's not even funny. Per match there's at least one career ending tackle on Hazard. Remember vs Newcastle if that guys tackle connected properly Hazard would have been put for months. Don't compare the physicality of the Prem to fluffy leagues like La Liga..... So many players careers ended over here cos of injuries. Just look at Cazorla and RVP.... Name me one big player who's career got finished in the La Liga cos of injuries....
Huebdmu
136
It comes with the territory,if you don't like to release the ball fast,go at opponents trying dribble them i don't see how Hazard will escape such marking. It may look like premeditated but football is a fluid game i don't think it is true. One or two harsh tackles from overzealous midfielders and defenders is absolutely true but to suggest it is the usual game plan for teams to stop Hazard is not true. I saw him play against Barcelona and it was the opposite,he was the one committing unreasonable offences maybe he was frustrated.
Jattfanmessida
126
I talk with my friends every weekend when we together for match that body tackle should be considered as foul..We saw many times that players misuse body tackle..Hazard is absolutely right.Players that not do much in the match can harm great players like Hazard cause injuries that affect the player's career..
Elsa98
73
Ramos: Need more protection?
RealMd13
9
If Leo never asked for PROTECTION WHO DA F IS YOU HAZARD to ask for PROTECTION 😂😂😂😂