Chelsea stars return to pre-season a bit humbled and wounded, but more determined than ever.
“We need to show everybody that we are Chelsea,” commented Eden Hazard, after an intense training session at UCLA before their friendly against Liverpool. “We have big players and we are a big team. We finish not in a good place last season in the season, now we want to do better and win the first place.”
By his own admission, Hazard endured an uncharacteristically terrible spell last season, which included a goalless streak of more than 2000 minutes. He identifies nagging injuries as the reason for his poor form last season, and assures that he’s feeling healthy now:
“I played very bad last season. I think I was tired, but it is easy to say now. Not a big injury, but it is hard to play even with small injuries in England, because the game is difficult. This season I’m ready.”
The players know that the coming season will be challenging. With Leicester winning the title last season, more teams than ever are now starting the season with legitimate title ambitions.
“I think this season will be the most difficult season in history, because of so many managers – Mourinho, Guardiola and Conte here,” conceded Willian, who was one of the few bright spots last season for the Blues. “We have to concentrate the whole season.”
Both Hazard and Willian, however, re-affirmed their commitment to the club and a determination to set the record straight:
“I don’t want to finish like this,” Hazard stressed. “When I was in France, I finished with a hat-trick. If I have to leave one-day, I want to finish as champion. I want to be the best.”
Should the Belgian top his performance of Chelsea’s title winning 2014-15 season, he will have made a valid claim.
