Eden Hazard’s old comments about former club Chelsea have resurfaced after the Blues were drawn in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against the winger’s current employers Real Madrid, for a third consecutive season. The Belgium international departed the west London giants in 2019 for a fee of £103.5 million plus add-ons, making him the club’s record sale.
However, Eden Hazard hasn’t been like the one which ripped it apart in England for the Blues, notching a staggering 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 appearances, while lifting six trophies. The Belgian has been a shadow of former himself, and is touted as a flop at the Santiago Bernabeu, dishing out just 7 goals and 11 assists in 73 games. Now his old comments have remerged after he once again will be meeting the Blues in the Champions League.
Eden Hazard’s Chelsea wish granted as Real Madrid take on the Blues in the Champions League quarterfinals
The Champions League quarterfinals draw concluded on March 17, as the eight remaining contenders got to know their next opponents. While the Manchester City vs Bayern Munich clash may headline the draw, it was bit bemusing to see Real Madrid draw Chelsea in the knockouts of the competition for a third season in a row. And amidst an interesting tie which will be played out next month, Eden Hazard’s Chelsea farewell message when he left them for Real Madrid in 2019, has just emerged at the right time. The winger had wrote:
“Chelsea and Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first. I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.”
Eden Hazard’s wish appears to have been granted, as Chelsea and Real Madrid have drawn each other in the Champions League knockout rounds for the past three seasons. Their first competitive meeting occurred in the 2021-22 season, when they met in the semi-finals. Chelsea drew 1-1 in Madrid before winning 2-0 in the return leg at the Stamford Bridge. They eventually went on to lift the trophy with the elephant ears after defeating fellow Premier League rivals Manchester City in the final.
They met again the following season, with Real Madrid this time coming out on top. They won the first leg of the quarter-final tie 3-1 at Stamford Bridge before giving up three goals in the second leg to help Chelsea take the lead. However, a Rodrygo Goes goal in the 80th minute and a Karim Benzema goal in the extra time secured a 5-4 aggregate win for the Los Blancos. Real Madrid went all the way to win the tournament after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final.
On the other hand, Eden Hazard has had no success against his former side while plying the trade against them. He played 89 minutes in the return leg of the 2020-21 semi-final after coming on for 24 minutes in the first leg. The Belgian winger, however, made no significant contributions in either outings. He later missed Real Madrid’s clash against Chelsea the following season due to injury.