Eden Hazard’s form last season might have finally been explained by the man himself.
The former PFA Player of the Year had a hugely disappointing campaign and it has to be said his loss of form was a major factor in Chelsea finishing in lowly 10th.
The Belgian was particularly poor in the first half of the season prior to Jose Mourinho’s sacking and he only really started to pick up around March under interim boss Guus Hiddink.
So, as expected, the player has all but confirmed that it was Mourinho who should be blamed for failing to get the best out of him.
In a thinly-veiled dig at the Manchester United boss, he told the Mirror:
“I’ve always been the same player but Conte knows how to treat players having played at the highest level himself.”
That’s got to be a dig at Mourinho, who is known to be self-conscious about the fact he is one of the few top managers who wasn’t a top player.
It doesn’t seem to have held him back, but it’s always going to make him an easy target for players he’s fallen out with.
Hazard’s now well and truly back to his best, but there’s every chance that if United win the league, the Special One’s still going to have the last laugh.
Check out Football Advisor for profitable betting predictions