Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said that he believes that star forward Eden Hazard will be the game’s next superstar, but fears English football may block his path, according to The Sun.
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Hazard could add to his his PFA Player of the Year award this weekend by helping guide the Blues to their first Premier League title since 2010, and Mourinho believes the Belgian international is the natural successor to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Mourinho has made the claim that the 24-year-old’s progress could be held back by the very game that he thrives in – English football.
“After Cristiano and Messi, Hazard will be next. I don’t see anyone else,” Mourinho said.
“You can see the potential, the evolution and the way he’s been holding on to his profile as a person.
“The world still hasn’t reached him. He’s still a humble kid, a team player, nice and with a family life.
“But I also believe that, behind phenomenal players like Ronaldo or Messi, there’s something close to an organized campaign.
“And Hazard doesn’t have it.
“It’s a 24-year-old boy, who plays in a club where there isn’t a culture of ‘best in the world’.
“He plays in a country where it doesn’t exist.
“England has football concepts highly developed.
“Maybe it’s one of the few countries where clubs would rather win the league than the Champions League.
“Here, for instance, we believe it’s harder to be a forward. I mean, nobody works to be the best in the world.
“Hazard just signed for five or six seasons.
“If he was in another country, they would grab him, put him next to Ronaldo and Messi, wait for them to be 33, 34 and 31, 32, and Hazard would be next.
“In this culture, I have my doubts.”
So far this season Hazard has chalked up 18 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions, and has earned rounded praise for his contribution both in front of goal and creating for his teammates.
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