Wednesday 17 September 2014 16:10, UK
When Chelsea conquered Europe for the first time in their history with an epic UEFA Champions League final win in May 2012, Eden Hazard was sitting, watching his television in a hotel room in France.
The playmaker would join the new kings of the continent just 16 days later but, as the then-Lille star viewed the drama of Chelsea's win over Bayern Munich, he might not have known he was definitely moving to Stamford Bridge.
One thing which is for sure, though, is that as Didier Drogba and Petr Cech were the penalty shootout heroes, Hazard’s ambition to make his eventual £32million transfer to England was heightened.
Two seasons on, and since joining Chelsea, the now-23-year-old has not been able to replicate that European Cup success, as the defending champions suffered a shock group stage exit in 2012/13 before losing in last season’s semi-finals.
At the same time, and all the more upsetting for Hazard - who made his Champions League debut for Lille against CSKA Moscow in 2011, he was absent through injury as Chelsea beat Benfica in the final of the Europa League in 2013.
It has therefore not been the happiest experience for the Belgian in European blue but that has only served to make him all the more determined to succeed at a time when he is, according to Jose Mourinho, in talks over a new contract.
This season’s Champions League campaign gets under way for Chelsea against Schalke in London on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1HD from 7.30pm, and we have chatted exclusively with the No.10.
Speaking as he was being unveiled as the new pack star of FIFA 15, Hazard discussed Champions League ambitions, setting Ballon d’Or targets and much more.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU ARE A DIFFERENT PLAYER NOW TO THE ONE WHO MADE HIS DEBUT IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR LILLE?
“I have had maybe 20 games in the Champions League now. I have experience. You continue the game and you try to be the best.
“The Champions League is a really good competition. Everybody sees the Champions League and you have to be good.”
WHEN YOU MADE THAT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEBUT, YOU WERE IN THE SAME LILLE TEAM AS JOE COLE AND MATHIEU DEBUCHY. DID YOU SPEAK TO JOE ABOUT CHELSEA? DO YOU STILL SPEAK TO HIM IN ENGLAND?
“Yes. He said to me before, when we were at Lille, ‘You have to be at Chelsea, because it is the right club for you’. I said, ‘Okay, Joe, okay, I will go!’ (laughing).
"Yes [I still speak to Joe now] and did when we played against him with West Ham last season.
If I want to win the Ballon d’Or, I need to win everything
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO PLAY AGAINST MATHIEU IN LONDON DERBIES VERSUS ARSENAL?
“It is very exciting, because Debuchy is my friend. We won everything in Lille together.
“Last season was my first game against him when he was at Newcastle. It is always good to play against your friend.”
DID YOU WATCH CHELSEA WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN 2012? WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF THE GAME? DID IT ENHANCE YOUR AMBITION TO PLAY FOR CHELSEA?
“Of course. I was in a hotel in Lille.
"I remember one guy; Didier Drogba (laughing), and Petr Cech.
“Yes [it enhanced my ambition to play for Chelsea]. When they won the Champions League, after that season, I chose Chelsea. Now I am very happy. I hope we can win the Champions League again.”
IN YOUR FIRST SEASON AT CHELSEA, THE CLUB WENT OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AS HOLDERS AT THE GROUP STAGE AND THEN YOU MISSED THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL THROUGH INJURY. HOW FRUSTRATING WAS THAT EUROPEAN SEASON FOR YOU?
“I was sad. I could not help the team.”
DO YOU THINK A PLAYER NEEDS TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TO BE CONSIDERED A GREAT? HOW WOULD WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING A BALLON D’OR AFTER YOU WERE SHORTLISTED LAST YEAR?
“Of course.
"If I want to win the Ballon d’Or, I need to win everything.”
JOSE MOURINHO HAS SAID, ‘IF A PLAYER IS GREAT, THEY CANNOT BE HAPPY WITH A FEW GOOD THINGS THEY DO’. AFTER YOUR GREAT FORM FOR CHELSEA LAST SEASON (14 GOALS AND SEVEN ASSISTS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AS WELL AS THE PFA YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD), DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A POINT TO PROVE?
“I can be better. Last season was very good, and the first season [at Chelsea] as well. Now I am in the third season and if I can win trophies, it could be better.
“Personally, if I continue like this and score more goals and make more assists, but most important is trophies at the end.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT THIS EA SPORTS FIFA 15 EVENT?
“We are here for FIFA 15 and I did some skills on the pitch. It was good.”
Eden Hazard was speaking as the Chelsea star was being unveiled as the pack star of EA SPORTS FIFA 15, out on September 26th and available for pre-order NOW at easports.com/uk/fifa/buy #FeelTheGame
