Frustrated by his past failures, Chelsea star Eden
Hazard has been urged to finally stamp his mark on the Champions League.
While Cristiano
Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar have cemented their legendary status with
headline-stealing performances in Europe’s elite club competition, Hazard
remains one of the tournament’s biggest enigmas.
Hazard’s quality
is without question and the Belgian midfielder has been shortlisted for the
2017 Ballon d’Or award after playing a key role in Chelsea’s Premier League
title triumph last season. But despite
tormenting defenders in domestic competitions, since Hazard made his Champions
League debut with Lille in 2011, the game’s grandest stage has seen
frustratingly few glimpses of that exquisite talent.
With that in mind, Chelsea’s clash with Roma on Wednesday
offers Hazard a chance to change the narrative.
Aware that Hazard is now in his prime years, Chelsea manager Antonio
Conte has issued a public challenge to a player sometimes known for letting his
diffident personality have a negative effect on his performances.
“I think last
season Eden played a really important season. He played very well and was
really important for us to win the league,” Conte said. “For us he showed in
every game great talent and to be a really good player. This competition is
very important for him and for the team. This competition brings you on another
level and I think he has all the possibility to do this. He is a top player. I
think it is the right moment.”
Hazard’s maiden
Champions League voyage ended with the youngster failing to score a single goal
as Lille bowed out at the group stage. Yet, convinced of Hazard’s potential,
Chelsea signed him just weeks after they won the Champions League in 2012. However,
Hazard went goalless in Europe that season as Chelsea were embarrassingly
eliminated at the group stage.
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