Gianfranco Zola has hailed Eden Hazard as Chelsea’s greatest foreign import.
Assistant coach Zola, who scored 80 goals in 312 Chelsea appearances between 1996 and 2003, needed no time to put Hazard top of the Stamford Bridge pile for overseas recruits.
2
Chelsea No 2 Gianfranco Zola was a huge hit during his playing days and holds legendary status among supporters
Ivory Coast hitman Didier Drogba and Zola would doubtless be at the forefront of fans’ minds when drawing up a list of Chelsea’s all-time great imports.
But Zola is adamant Hazard must top that chart, while admitting he still holds out hope the Belgium playmaker will not depart for Real Madrid this summer.
“Eden Hazard’s definitely at the very top,” said Zola, ranking the 28-year-old as Chelsea’s best-ever overseas signing.
“He’s such an unbelievable player. The more I’ve spent time with him the more I appreciate him as a player, but also as a boy.
“He’s been great. I would love to have him for longer.
2
However, Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s greatest foreign import, according to Zola
“What we are trying to do here perfectly suits him. It’s no coincidence that he’s having his best season.
“I don’t want to take anything away from him and what he has achieved. But certainly the way we play helps him a lot.”
Madrid are expected to lure Hazard away from Chelsea this summer, with the Belgium star’s current Stamford Bridge deal expiring at the end of next season.
Chelsea continue to hold out for £100m however, with Real boss Zinedine Zidane keen to add the livewire forward to his Bernabeu rebuilding project.
Hazard has 85 goals and 81 assists from his 241 Premier League appearances for Chelsea since his 2012 debut.
LIVE ON talkSPORT
talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
- Napoli vs Arsenal (Thursday, 8pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest (Friday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Leeds vs Wigan (Friday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Sunderland vs Doncaster (Friday, 5:15pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Norwich vs Sheffield Wednesday (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Newcastle vs Southampton (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Accrington Stanley vs Luton (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Everton vs Manchester United (Sunday, 1:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Cardiff vs Liverpool (Sunday, 4pm) – talkSPORT
Despite continuing to hope the Belgian will stay at Chelsea next term, Zola insisted the Blues can still pull off a strong end to the campaign by winning the Europa League and finishing fourth in the Premier League.
“Of course we hope that Hazard will stay with us because he’s such an important player for us,” said Zola.
“There’s a lot of talking around this team, I realise that.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
“But we as coaches have to make sure we are not distracted by all of that.
“We need to maintain focus, because this year a lot of times I heard talk that it’s been a bad season.
“But if we can reach the final and maybe win the Europa League and end up fourth in the Premier League, I think it could be a remarkable season.”
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfers you should make in gameweek 33, including Arsenal and Chelsea stars The City star suffered a knock and face Manchester United and Tottenham around the second leg of their Champions League match.
Fantasy Football Tips: Premier League transfer advice for
Marcus Rashford is a doubt for England's Euro 2020 qualifier against the Czech Republic after training separately from the rest of the squad. The Manchester United forward was unable to take part in full training because of an ankle injury, which he sustained against Liverpool last month.
Marcus Rashford injury: Manchester United forward is fitness
Gary Lineker Asks Rio Ferdinand & Paul Scholes If Man Utd Are In Danger Of Becoming Like Liverpool Credit : BT Sport Check them out here
Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) | Twitter
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs fans will love this incredible Twitter thread of supporters reacting to Lucas Moura's winner
Champions League - Gist Junction - News around the world
gistjunction.com/tag/champions-league/
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Lucas Moura's family jumped in pool fully clothed to celebrate winning goal in Champions League semi-final admin May 10, 2019 Jubilation The Moura household could not contain their emotions as the 26-year-old netted a hat-trick against Ajax to send his side to the June 1…
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba wants to leave Old Trafford this summer and is determined to push for a move even if the club refuses to sell him, sources have told ESPN FC. Pogba, who
Paul Pogba 'agrees Real Madrid contract' and more Man Utd
New Barcelona 2019/20 kits: Fans stunned by 'terrible
Unai Emery relaxed on Arsenal's top four chances despite
Mar 28, 2019- Explore Anfield Luqman's board "LFC 90s players" on Pinterest. See more ideas about Football players, Soccer Players and Football liverpool.
Manchester City FC | Official Website, Latest News, Players
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to become the Blues' new director of football this summer, while Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante was a doubt for the Europa League final
Confirmed team news for Europa League final as Petr Cech and
Clarke Carlisle calls for Gordon Taylor to quit PFA despite admitting he'd be dead without his help Ex-chairman accused under-fire Taylor of a lack of "transparent governance" and is now backing
Former footballer Clarke Carlisle 'very unwell' but 'safe' in
Neil Warnock is expected to remain as Cardiff manager and target an immediate return to the Premier League. Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman confirmed he and chief executive Ken Choo held talks
Neil Warnock confirms he will STAY as Cardiff City manager
Man City vs Leicester live on talkSPORT: Full commentary and free stream as City look to hit back at Liverpool 2 hours ago All you want to recognize to song into the huge Premier League conflict on the Etihad Stadium
Klopp faces anxious wait over Firmino fitness as title race hots up Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp faces an anxious wait - not over the outcome of Manchester City's result at Burnley on Sunday but the fitness of Roberto
Jurgen Klopp explains Roberto Firmino's absence ahead of
No comments:
Post a Comment