Eden Hazard reveals why he rarely bothers defending
EDEN HAZARD has mocked himself by claiming defending is too tiring for him – but that he is forced to do it for Antonio Conte.
The Chelsea playmaker claims some players are simply not made to defend.
Hazard has picked out attributes from fellow superstars to make the perfect player – and was ruthlessly honest about himself.
The Belgian midfielder gave France Football a serious analysis of other players but was tongue in cheek about himself.
The 26-year-old joked about back-tracking runs: “You don’t need that. Don’t tell (Blues boss Antonio) Conte, but you can write that it’s pointless.
“If you defend too much, you tire yourself out.
“If I’ve spent the whole game defending, forget about me being useful after the 60th minute, and I’m quite fit.
“There are people who are meant to defend, while others are there to attack. After that, it’s up to the manager.
“If that’s what he wants, you need to do it, otherwise you sit on the bench. I defend too. I don’t like it, but I have to with Antonio.”
Hazard insists he would win the Ballon d’Or if his finishing matched Barcelona’s former Liverpool hero Luis Suarez.
His identikit for the ultimate performer also includes the vision of Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo’s power and the off-the-ball movement of Ronaldo’s Real Madrid front-partner Karim Benzema.
Hazard would add to that the leadership skills of ex-Chelsea skipper John Terry, Barcelona maestro Andres Iniesta’s “class” and the heading ability of Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke.
But for all-time elegance Hazard opts for Real chief Zinedine Zidane, a Madrid favourite as a player and winner of the World Cup and Euros in the France midfield.
Hazard said: “Class, you either have it or you don’t. I don’t know if I have it, that’s not up to me to say. For me, the classiest was Zidane, but if I have to choose a player now, it’s Iniesta.
“If someone told me they didn’t like Iniesta, I just wouldn’t get why. He has everything. It’s beautiful”.