Chelsea’s £32m wizard: I’ve “silenced” my critics

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has suggested that the club’s underdog status may help them in their search for European glory.

The Blues were classed as outsiders in 2011/12 when they beat Bayern Munich in the final to claim their first Champions League trophy and Hazard thinks that tag may help them again this time around.

Jose Mourinho’s side face Galatasaray in the Last-16 of the competition after progressing through the group stages but Hazard believes there’s no pressure on them.

“We still have a young squad. Nobody’s calling us favourites for the Champions League this season,” he told La Capitale.

“Maybe it’s good. In 2012, when Chelsea won the Champions League, they weren’t favourites either.

“We’re already a strong team, but I think we still need two years to win the trophy. With some reinforcements, that must be possible.

“In the European Super Cup final we played a draw against Bayern Munich, the strongest team in the world. So everything is possible.

“But first things first, we’ve got to beat Galatasaray with Didier Drogba, an icon at Chelsea.”

In the Premier League, Hazard scored the equaliser in the 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday and he commented about his critics.

“Unfortunately the goal did not count double because it was in a big match,” he said.

“But I silenced those who said I only score against weaker opponents. That gives me pleasure. I try to score in every match.

“I don’t set myself targets for the season, but my aim is to get goals and assists, and the most important thing is three points.

“In football, stats are really important. I score more goals now and I assist more.

“I can play an average game and score two times. But I can also play a top game without contributing. I’m a perfectionist but I’m not a killer yet, I’m working on it.”