Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea midfielder
Eden Hazard has the ability to match the
levels of Lionel Messi and Cristiano
Ronaldo.
The Belgium international has been a key
figure in Chelsea’s title pursuit this season,
scoring nine goals in 22 Premier League
games.
And while Mourinho claims the 23-year-old
possesses the determination required to
become one of the best players in the
world, he admits Hazard’s position as a
winger will restrict his opportunities in
front of goal.
"Does he have the capacity to reach the
level of a Messi or Cristiano? Now I say yes,
because his evolution is great,” Mourinho
told reporters.
“He has time to become a great, great
player and arrive where they are – he's 23,
and Cristiano is 28, Messi 26 – so there is
space for further evolution, and there's a
great ambition in him.
“They are also top goalscorers, of course,
and that makes them even more special.
Eden is a winger, a pure winger, so I don't
think it's possible for Eden to be top scorer
in the league. That normally affects
people's judgement.
"But if he can be a match-winner, a player
with high performances during a season,
what I feel now in him is responsibility in
every aspect.
“Against Manchester United he made a
fantastic tackle in our own box.
“Against Stoke, he tried to kill the game,
have initiative, dribbling at people, trying to
make things happen. The kid is going in a
fantastic direction."
But despite his praise, the Chelsea manager
warns that Hazard may have to do more off
the pitch in order to stand a realistic
chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.
"If he wants the Ballon d'Or, he must build
the entourage politically for that,"
Mourinho said.
"Without the entourage and the politics, he
doesn't get the Ballon d'Or. That's a
different story."
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