Eden Hazard Reflects on His Career and New Ventures

Eden Hazard has always been a player who marched to the beat of his own drum, both on and off the football pitch. In a candid interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Chelsea star discussed how his laid-back attitude towards fitness and nutrition frequently clashed with his coaches. Notably, Maurizio Sarri, who managed Hazard during his final prolific season in England, often encouraged the winger to adopt the rigorous habits of Cristiano Ronaldo to extend his career at the elite level.

When asked about Sarri’s advice to emulate the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, Hazard remarked, “Yes, but I told him I didn’t want to. I’ve never gone too far, but I’ve always wanted to be Hazard, both on and off the pitch. If my friends invited me to dinner, I wouldn’t say no, and if I wanted a drink, I wouldn’t deny myself. Cristiano is Cristiano, I am Hazard. I just wanted to be myself and play football.”

Despite his insistence on maintaining his lifestyle, Hazard thrived under some of the most exacting tactical minds in the sport. The two-time Premier League champion reflected on his relationships with the managers who shaped his tenure in England. Significantly, he named Jose Mourinho as the greatest coach he has ever worked with, praising the Portuguese manager as an “extraordinary communicator.” This acknowledgment comes despite their well-known conflicts during Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea, highlighting the deep respect Hazard has for the “Special One’s” motivational techniques.

Hazard shared amusing anecdotes about his experiences with Sarri and Antonio Conte. “It’s true, I won a lot with them. Sarri and I developed a special relationship; I believe his vision of football closely aligns with mine,” he stated. “Yet, I would sometimes tell him that his training sessions were boring. That’s not a critique, especially given the success he achieved, as did Conte. Antonio was remarkable; he made us do countless repetitions.”

In a surprising revelation for many Chelsea fans, Hazard confessed that his childhood allegiance lay elsewhere. He disclosed that he grew up supporting AC Milan, captivated by the legendary squad assembled by Silvio Berlusconi and overseen by Adriano Galliani. Hazard recounted a conversation with Galliani, who suggested that Hazard would have been an ideal fit for the Rossoneri’s attacking style.

When queried about the possibility of playing in Italy, he responded, “To be honest… no. [Former Inter chairman Massimo] Moratti praised me highly, but I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and for Real Madrid, and fortunately, I achieved that. Moreover, I’ll let you in on a secret: as a child, I supported AC Milan, and just a few hours ago, I met Galliani. He mentioned that he saw me as a good fit for Berlusconi’s AC Milan, but they never made a move.”

He added, “I used to watch Serie A much more closely; I didn’t want to miss [Dries] Mertens and [Radja] Nainggolan’s performances. Nowadays, I watch a little less, but I’m eager to see Kevin [de Bruyne] return from injury. Under Conte, they can have fun, but over the last five years, Inter have proven to be the strongest team in Italy.”

Since retiring in 2023, Hazard has transitioned from the football pitch to the vineyard, recently launching his own wine label, “Wine of the Champions,” in Italy. This new venture allows him to embrace the lifestyle he has always championed. However, he has not completely severed ties with his former teammates; he revealed that he has been in regular contact with Cesc Fabregas, who is currently making strides as the manager of Como in Italy.

“I’ll be honest,” he said. “We talked a bit over the summer. I told him he was one of the best midfielders in history and that he’s destined to become one of the best coaches too. I suggested it was time for him to return to Chelsea, and he joked about it, but I genuinely believe it. He loves football and possesses extensive knowledge of the game. As a Chelsea fan, I want the best for the club, which is why I dream of seeing Cesc on the bench while I’m in the stands, enjoying the show.”