Eden Hazard always idolised Zinedine Zidane, said he was the reason he fell in love with football in the first place and the reason he wanted to play for Real Madrid.
So it’s a desperate shame Hazard was unable to show the respect his manager deserved. That he let himself go when injuries set in after he left Chelsea for a new life in Spain.
Zidane probably deserved more commitment from this Galactico signing, who admits in an interview with L’Equipe that he dialled it down at Real and might sometimes turn up to train feeling worse for wear after a heavy night, not run about a lot and then swerve the boring tactical training sessions and go for a rub down.
Although let’s not saddle up the moral horses just yet. Not at the behest of Christophe Dugarry, who is getting his knickers in a twist about Hazard on French TV.
Dugarry was part of the France team inspired by the genius of Zidane to World Cup glory in 1998, but never really made an impression at Milan or Barcelona and had a decent six months on loan at Birmingham City.
Hazard is one of the finest footballers of his generation. For a time, the best plying his trade on these shores. Not only a delight to watch, with his beautiful balance, explosions of pace and creative imagination, but also hugely influential.
He changed games for his team and he won them trophies. Chelsea won the Premier League twice with him wreaking havoc, usually from the left wing. If he did that while half-cut or hungover then fair play to him, but he probably didn’t.
There was always a feeling Hazard had more to give. Perhaps most evident when Jose Mourinho returned for his second spell at Stamford Bridge after working with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.
Mourinho compared them often. Initially,
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