Of his two spells as Chelsea manager, the first was certainly Jose Mourinho’s best. Eden Hazard never got to play under Mourinho during his first stint, but he did when Mourinho returned.
Eden Hazard joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012 from Lille and a year later, Mourinho returned for his second stint at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho won the 2014-15 Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
Hazard sparkled under Mourinho, having a hand in 62 goals in 125 appearances for Chelsea with the ‘Special One’ in the dugout. Mourinho would eventually leave halfway through the 2015-16 season.
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Eden Hazard makes WhoScored's list of highest-rated Premier League forwards
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Hazard would go on to win another Premier League title, another Carabao Cup trophy and the Europa League under Maurizio Sarri before the Belgian completed a move to Real Madrid, where he stuttered.
Eden Hazard says Jose Mourinho’s communication annoyed him
Hazard has been somewhat vocal in recent weeks, holding many interviews with the winger now retired, last playing for Real Madrid in 2023. Recently, he said he’d like Cesc Fabregas to become Chelsea gaffer.
Jose Mourinho the head coach / manager of Chelsea speaks to Eden Hazard
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Speaking to RMC Sport, Hazard was asked about his time under Mourinho at Chelsea and if there was anything that ever annoyed him or got under his skin regarding Mourinho. He named his communication.
“Come on, what can I say that’s bad about José? Maybe he talks a little too loudly, and he says things too quickly? Sometimes he should be a little more careful. Especially when he criticises his players sometimes.
“Even if he defends them a lot, but again, it’s just to say something, you know. Sometimes he talks. But it’s not to the press, it’s between us players. Sometimes he says, ‘you’re rubbish, you’re rubbish.’ That’s it.”
The story of Jose Mourinho once dropping Eden Hazard
Mourinho and Hazard worked well together during their time at Chelsea, and it resulted in a league title. But there were occasions, as expected when the egos of Mourinho and Hazard clash, that it didn’t work.
Previously, Hazard has recalled a moment when Mourinho dropped him in the Special One’s first season back at Chelsea. Hazard had gone to watch his old side Lille and misplaced his passport when returning.
Whenever Boehly pulls the trigger on Rosenior, who are YOU hiring? 😤
Terry would love Fabregas…
“I remember once, during the first year Mourinho arrived, I went to Lille to watch a game and lost my passport on the way back. I wasn’t allowed back into England and missed training. I returned around 2pm.
“When the session was over, I had to apologise to him. It was a really bad moment for me. The next week, he pulled me out of the team and said it was my fault, but by the weekend I was playing, it went well.”
What Hazard and Mourinho will agree on, is just how far Chelsea have fallen despite the constant cash injected into the playing squad. Liam Rosenior is tasked with returning Chelsea to Mourinho’s heights.
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