Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho has given Eden Hazard an extraordinary vote of confidence with the new season about to get underway --- saying he rates him as one the top three players in the world and better than Cristiano Ronaldo at present.
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| Hazard scored 19 goals in all competitions last season and created the most chances in the Premier League (Photo: Graham Chadwick) |
Hazard, voted Player of the Year last season by both the Football Writers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association, is now up there with the likes of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo now, according to Mourinho.
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| Hazard was in impressive form for the Blues last season and was named Footballer of the Year (Photo: Getty Images) |
Because of the trophies he won last season, the Chelsea manager would rate Hazard above his Portuguese compatriot Ronaldo, whom he managed at Real Madrid.
When discousing whether Hazard ranked alongside Messi and Ronaldo, Mourinho said: 'Obviously it depends on the season they have. They have to win some titles, no? Football without titles is nothing. Messi won the treble.
'He won three competitions last year, he reached the Copa America final. He had a fantastic season for him and for his team. I don't like players or managers to win individual trophies without the team.'
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| Mourinho believes Hazard was a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo last season (Photo: AP) |
When asked whether, on the basis that Chelsea won the Premier League with Hazard a driving force, he would put Hazard above Ronaldo at present, Mourinho said: 'Last season, yes. In spite of the fact that Ronaldo was fantastic. He was fantastic. He scored an incredible number of goals.
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| Hazard, voted Player of the Year last season by both the Football Writers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association |
'I am not saying he is not fantastic. I am just saying that, in my personal view, every football player in the world should understand that a team has to be in front and no titles.
