Hazard Wants To Stay At Chelsea

Chelsea striker Eden Hazard, who has been linked to clubs like PSG and Real Madrid, recently told reporters that he would rather stay at Stamford Bridge and work under new team manager Antonio Conte, instead of leaving for France or Spain. Since Hazard has been ineffective this season, his decision to stay shouldn’t have a significant impact on Chelsea’s online sportsbook soccer odds.

This season, Hazard had a minimal impact on the team, scoring two goals all season long. When the 25-year-old Belgian signed with the club in 2012, there was a lot of hope that he would provide the team with a lot of offense after scoring 36 goals in 147 appearances for Lille.

In his first three seasons with Chelsea, Hazard scored 37 goals, but his production significantly dropped off this season as he scored only two goals, which didn’t come until April. Due to his disappointing performance this season, Hazard has been reportedly interested in returning to France in hopes of jump starting his career, or playing in Spain.

Hazard’s only goal of the season came against Bournemouth in a 4-1 victory for the Blues. Pedro and William scored a goal each, and Hazard added a first half goal and another in the final minutes of the game.

While Hazard has made his intentions public, it might not make a difference because Chelsea might decide to move him in the offseason as they try to improve their team. After winning the Premier League title in 2014, the Blues started the 2015 season poorly, and at one point were close to the bottom of the standings.

The team’s poor start led to the firing of manager Jose Mourinho, but the team will likely continue to get rid of people they don’t think can help them get back to their winning ways.

After Mourinho’s employment was terminated, Guus Hiddink took over as manager on an interim basis. Hiddink was able to turn things around, and Chelsea will finish in the top 10 in the standings, which is an impressive achievement considering how dysfunctional the team was when he took over.

With the success he had, it is a little surprising that Chelsea didn’t make Hiddink the permanent manager.

Antonio Conte was named the new coach of the team and will take over at Chelsea when Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign is over. Once Conte becomes the Chelsea manager, he will be expected to want to bring in players that fit his style, which is another reason Hazard could be gone from Stamford Bridge by the time next season starts.

Despite the possibility of not being on the team when Conte takes over, Hazard said he would love to stay on the team with Conte because it would be a great opportunity for him to work with one of the best managers in the world.

Hazard also added that he did not want to look too far into the future at the moment because the team still has to finish out the season, and Conte still has a lot of work to do in preparation for the Euro 2016 tournament.

If Conte decides to keep Hazard on the team, he is under contract until 2020.