Eden Hazard has miserably failed to maintain his high standards from last season, and following another insipid display in Chelsea’s loss against PSG, pundit Roy Keane slammed the Belgian for his attitude.
The former Lille man has received criticism from pundits and fans alike for his form this season, and the Belgian’s decision to publicly court PSG before Chelsea’s Champions League round of 16 tie against the French side has not gone down too well with the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Incredibly, Hazard is yet to score a goal for the Blues in the English Premier League, with his solitary strike this coming from the penalty spot in a 5-1 win over MK Dons in the FA Cup. His lacklustre form continued in the Champions League on Tuesday at the Parc des Prances, promopting ITV pundit Roy Keane to lash out at the 25-year-old.
Keane is quoted by the Mail Online as saying: “I can’t understand these players, he signed an extension of five years only last year, when we saw how brilliant he was… and then he’s coming out with all that nonsense on the eve of a big game.
“If I was a team-mate of his I would kick him up and down the training pitch. Some of the senior players have got to get hold of him. He’s a talented boy, but his attitude is like a spoilt child. It was absolutely ridiculous.”
The Manchester United legend urged Hazard to play for his pride, if nothing else. “You don’t mind some players sometimes being moody, or having their head turned if they think they might be moving, but once you go on that pitch you’ve still got your pride,” added Keane.
“You’re playing for your team-mates, for your club, for your supporters, for your family. You’ve got to go out and perform, and be moody after the game if need be.”
Hazard drop in form remarkable
Even though the Belgium international has never been a prolific goalscorer, his precipitous drop in performance levels is almost inexplicable. After moving to Stamford Bridge from Lille in 2012, Hazard scored 13 goals in all competitions and assisted 24 more in his début season.
In 2013-14, he was again Chelsea’s attacking talisman, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and feeding his team-mates for an additional 10. Last season was indubitably his best at Stamford Bridge, and his 19 goals in all competitions helped the Blues win their first Premier League trophy in five years as well as the Capital One Cup.
If Chelsea’s results have been difficult to understand this season, Hazard’s form has been even harder to fathom. Manager Guus Hiddink will be hoping the No.10 returns to something resembling his best form, with his side still in contention for the FA Cup and the Champions League.
