
Eden
Hazard will not be moving away from Chelsea and will return to top form next
season, according to Guus Hiddink.
This time last year Hazard scooped the Professional Footballers' Association
(PFA) Player of the Year award. This weekend he finally broke his Premier
League goal duck for this season.
Hazard scored twice in Chelsea's 4-1 win at Bournemouth after shaking off
groin trouble, and now Hiddink has tipped the 25-year-old to resist a move
away from the Blues in the summer.
"It's important that [Hazard] is here next year," said the interim boss. "He
has some more years to go on his contract. And what I do know is that he is
very happy with everything at Chelsea, and everything around Chelsea.
"He is very important and if he is fit he will be very important again next
season."
Hazard's season of discontent was kick-started by the Eva Carneiro row
during Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Swansea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day
of the campaign, the doctor rushing onto the field unprompted to treat the
Belgian.
Hazard and Mourinho's relationship appeared at least outwardly never to
recover fully, leading to frequent rumours about the Belgium playmaker
agitating for a transfer.
Italy's Antonio Conte will take the Chelsea helm in the summer, and Hiddink
firmly believes he will be able to build his new-look Blues team around the
Belgian.
Hiddink also tipped Hazard to regain the kind of game-breaking form that can
lead to further accolades like the PFA award he won last term.
"He's very light, very fresh now in training, he's been enjoying it and
making jokes," added the Dutchman.
"He's playing free with no doubt in his mind and no frustrations, so this is
a good sign for me. Now he can go on for the whole season.
"He's not fully fit yet, so without taking any risks in the upcoming days he
can regain that. And then of course the mental fitness will go accordingly.
"It's been a very bad season for him, we don't like to neglect the facts.
It's difficult for a talented, high-quality player like Hazard. I think this
season he had a difficult season, falling into injuries, coming back, nearly
getting back then getting injured again.
"When you come back properly you'll be back well, and he showed that. When
he is fully fit physically and mentally then he is one of the best. And I
think he can regain the [PFA] award. He has the capacity to gain it back in
coming years."