Jose Mourinho has given Eden Hazard an extraordinary vote of confidence with the new season about to get under way by saying he rates him as one of the world’s top three players — and better than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hazard, voted Player of the Year last season by both the Football Writers’ Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association, is now up there with the likes of Lionel Messi, according to Mourinho.
And because of the trophies he won last season, Mourinho said he would rate Hazard above Ronaldo, who he managed at Real Madrid.
‘Last season, yes,’ he said. ‘In spite of the fact that Ronaldo was fantastic. Obviously it depends on the season they have. They have to win some titles, no? Football without titles is nothing. Messi won the treble.
‘He won three competitions last year, he reached the Copa America final. He had a fantastic season for him and for his team. I don’t like players or managers to win individual trophies without the team.’
Ronaldo won no domestic trophies nor the Champions League though Real Madrid did win the Club World Cup last December.
Mourinho did acknowledge the quality of Ronaldo’s play. ‘He was fantastic,’ he said. ‘He scored an incredible number of goals. I am not saying he is not fantastic. I am just saying that every football player should understand that a team have to be in front and win titles.
‘Eden is coming with big status now and was voted one of the top 10 players in Europe last year. In my opinion he should be in the top three not in the top 10. I think Eden is the best player in our country. The best player in England. You (the football writers) voted him too, the best player in the English Premier League.’
Hazard started every game in the Premier League last season, scored 19 goals, provided 11 assists and created the most chances of any player in the Premier League but has set himself the target of getting closer to Ronaldo’s and Messi’s goal count for the next season.
Hazard said: ‘If I want to reach this level I have to score 40 or 50 goals just for one season. I think last season I scored 19. Maybe it’s good but it’s not enough.’