Former Blues manager Jose Mourinho has denied falling out with Eden Hazard before being sacked by Chelsea. The pair reportedly fell out in the midst of Mourinho’s dismissal just months after winning the Premier League title, with Hazard’s performances during the 2015-16 season largely disappointing. Mourinho singled Hazard out during that ill-fated second spell at Stamford Bridge, questioning his work rate and effort for the team. EveningStandard
But Mourinho, while acting as a pundit on beIN Sports, denied any dispute between manager and player, instead pointing to Hazard’s player of the year gong as evidence. He said: “No! No! Hazard with me was voted the best player in the Premier League. He won the award. “No, no way. I have a good relationship with him.” Mourinho also spoke about Mohamed Salah’s brief spell at Chelsea, describing the Egyptian as “a lonely boy, a naive boy and physically fragile.”He added:”When the player is obviously talented, years can change the player for the better.”
Hazard revealed at the end of the 2015/16 season that he had sent a text message to Mourinho apologising for his poor form. The Belgium international has less than 15 months remaining on his contract at Chelsea and has yet to sign an extension. Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of Hazard, with the 28-year-old previously admitting it is his “dream” to play for the Spanish club. Mourinho has also been linked with a summer return to Madrid and recently admitted he would have no problem returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Concerning this season’s Champions League qualification Eden Hazard says Chelsea must win their final 11 Premier League games if they are to succeed in the “war” for Champions League football next season. “We talked together in the dressing room about Arsenal-Tottenham. Both lost two points,” Hazard told Chelsea TV. “Top four is a hard war, because we’re not only four teams, we’re six teams. “Now we have 11 games to play till the end of the season. We’ll try to take the maximum points.”