Jose Mourinho has been speaking about Eden Hazard’s quality and character ahead of today’s game against Arsenal at the Emirates, where a Chelsea win would see the Blues move 13 points clear of the Gunners.
Hazard, who has been nominated for both the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, with the results announced tonight, has been an integral part of the side over the course of the season, and in recent weeks has made a huge contribution.
Last Saturday it was Hazard’s goal which proved decisive against Manchester United, while the previous week he laid on the winner for Cesc Fabregas at QPR. The Belgian has scored in three of our last four games and netted on 18 occasions this season already, surpassing his total for the whole of the 2013/14 campaign.
‘He's a fantastic boy, a golden boy,’ said Mourinho. ‘The way he behaves, the way he wants to be, the way he respects people. Even the way he respects opponents. I don't think there's one opponent who will say "he insulted me" or "he made fun of me".
‘He doesn't cheat. He doesn't dive, nothing. Even for opponents, I think he's a fantastic kid.
‘I feel with him [there is] a great motivation to win the title. When you have great motivations you go over fatigue, over pain.
‘If we win the title he knows that he was fundamental in the team’s season. This is what he deserves. He deserves to be champion.
‘The title is what gives you more credit. It's not the individual awards, it's not the comments from the pundits or the former stars.’
Mourinho explained how he uses the ability of players such as Hazard to enhance his teams.
‘First of all I identify what the team needs and the team needs are the start of everything,’ said the Blues boss. ‘I try to make the player to be able to bring more what the team needs. These are the kind of players that win matches for the team, but you must work them in a way where they don't lose matches for the team.
‘In this moment Eden is in a state of mind and a tactical approach where this season we won matches because of him and we didn't lose matches because of him. This is the kind of player I like because he's a talented player that understands the team’s needs.
‘I give him more freedom but to give him more freedom I need to work the team to compensate that freedom. You give certain freedom in certain areas; the team needs to know that. He's playing with a lot of freedom.’
Ahead of a game in which Loic Remy will definitely miss out through injury and a late decision will be made over the availability of Diego Costa, Mourinho paid tribute to the contribution of his whole squad since the start of the season.
‘Petr Cech played matches and he didn't play just because Thibaut was injured,’ explained the Portuguese. ‘ Zouma played the most difficult matches of the season – Liverpool, Man United, Tottenham, Man City.
‘Filipe Luis played so well. When we needed the midfield players to compensate [they did], Mikel, Ramires, all the strikers have been important for us.'
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