If you ever heard the name of Eden Hazard, chances are you’ll recognize him more during his days in the Premier League playing for Chelsea rather than playing for Real Madrid in La Liga.
After all, most Chelsea fans would revere him as one of the greatest players ever for their club since he has led them to two Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17.
Everything changed last year when he signed a lucrative five-year pact with Los Blancos. In what he deemed as his next chapter, Hazard went on to pursue his lifelong dream to play for the prestigious club.
As a Los Blancos fan back then, of course you can’t help but feel excited about his arrival. Fans over at Bernabeu were optimistic that his superb play will carry over there as they try to win the La Liga trophy anew.
But fast forward to today, Eden Hazard continues to be on the wrong end of our La Liga 2020 news because of the injuries he sustained. The most painful of which, is when he suffered an ankle fracture that would sideline him indefinitely, leaving fans in dismay.
Real Madrid are currently neck-and-neck with Barcelona in the standings and getting him back to even around 60-per cent would really give them a huge boost in their La Liga 2020 odds of winning a title.
Now with La Liga being suspended due to the coronavirus threat, perhaps this will give the 29-year-old more time to recover and hopefully he gets back into full shape really soon.
As SBOBET fans continue to wait for the leagues to resume, for now, let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how Eden Hazard emerged as one of the world’s finest football players over these past few years.
What made Eden Hazard a legend in Stamford Bridge
In what was perhaps one of the greatest transfers ever, Eden Hazard transferred to Chelsea after five years with Lille in Ligue 1 in 2012.
And from the get-go, the Belgian striker made his presence felt when he registered two assists in his first-ever Premier League match against Newcastle.
Hazard’s energy and agility were off the charts as he would terrorise defenders on a per-game basis. He also shown vast improvement on his dribbling and passing which made him more creative on his playmaking.
In his debut season with the Blues, Hazard totaled 13 goals and 23 assists, and everything was harmonious in Stamford Bridge as they won the Europa League title that season.
Hazard would live up to his promise by doing more of the same in the next few seasons. He won back-to-back player of the season awards following Jose Mourinho’s return to the team in 2013. All in all, he has won the said award in four out of his six campaigns.
It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies for Hazard during his time with Chelsea. He’s had bouts with nagging injuries and he experienced some tough times as well.
After a lacklustre season in 2015/16 where scored just six goals, Hazard regained his form the following campaign by scoring 16 goals and he eventually led them to their sixth Premier League title in the 2016/17 season. At that time, there’s no doubt that he is already a legend in Stamford Bridge.
“When I think back over my special moments in a Chelsea shirt, there are so many. We are lucky to win many more games than we have lost. All I can say is each and every award both as a team and as an individual have been incredible,” said Hazard.
Eden Hazard in uncharted territory
Expectations were high when Hazard signed a long-term deal with Real Madrid who are hungry for more La Liga titles. Especially with the fallout between the team and Gareth Bale, Hazard was expected to carry on the club’s storied legacy to be the successor of the departing Cristiano Ronaldo.
The team experienced quite a rough patch during the pre-season as roles weren’t clear cut for the players and injuries started to mount.
Hazard was one of the main casualties of the said malaise. His nagging injuries before have caught up to him particularly on his legs, which led to him losing his spot in the starting XI under Zinedine Zidane.
It is not his fault that his injuries piled up due to the wear and tear. However, one can take solace knowing that he’s been working his butt off to get back into tip-top shape.
After all, he is still in his physical prime at 29 years old and Real Madrid will be wise to remain patient with his recovery.
Real Madrid are in great shape as they are stacked with key veterans and young players. And once they get back Eden Hazard in full fitness, Los Blancos will be a team to be reckoned with in all of Europe.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
