Eden Hazard will be staying at Chelsea, says Guus Hiddink
Eden Hazard has been below par on the pitch this season
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.
Eden Hazard felt it was good to be back on the pitch and scoring goals after his brace against Bournemouth
"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."
