Jose Mourinho has given Eden Hazard an extraordinary vote of confidence with the new season about to get underway by saying that he rates him as one the top three players in the world and better than Cristiano Ronaldo at present.
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 and Ronaldo now, according to Mourinho.
And because of the trophies he won last season, the Chelsea manager would rate Hazard above his Portuguese compatriot Ronaldo, whom he managed at Real Madrid.
Discussing whether Hazard ranked alongside Messi and Ronaldo, Mourinho said: '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 World Club Cup last December.
And asked whether, on the basis that Chelsea won the Premier League with Hazard a driving force, he would put Hazard above Ronaldo at present, Mourinho said: 'Last season, yes. In spite of the fact that Ronaldo was fantastic. He was fantastic. He scored an incredible number of goals.
'I am not saying he is not fantastic. I am just saying that, in my personal view, every football player in the world should understand that a team has to be in front and no titles.
'Eden is coming with big status now and was voted one of the top ten 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. As the Premier League is the top competition in the world, I think he is among the top players.'
Hazard started every game in the Premier League last season, scored 19 goals, made 11 assists and created the most chances of any player in the top flight 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 maybe it's not enough. If Messi and Ronaldo score 60 goals, it's possible.'
(dailymail.co.uk)
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