• Premier League

Hazard: Trophy for Chelsea over PFA prize

ESPN staff
April 25, 2013
Eden Hazard feels Juan Mata has been Chelsea's best player this season © Getty Images
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Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard wants success as a team to be prioritised ahead of personal accolades as he approaches the conclusion of his first season as a Premier League player.

Belgium international Hazard joined Tottenham talisman Gareth Bale in being nominated for both the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, with both prizes set to be handed out at an awards ceremony on Sunday.

While Bale is the bookies favourite to land the PFA's top honour, Hazard has claimed he will not be disappointed if individual glory passes him by so long as Chelsea finish the season on a high.

"It is about the team, not individual personal performances," the £32 million midfielder told Chelsea's official website. "Players want to win trophies, so the Europa League would be better, and hopefully we can be back in the Champions League next season.

"In France, I was voted the best player by other players, which was a big honour. It is good for me, but it is not so important. While it is very nice to be nominated, maybe we can win in the Europa League, which would be more important."

Hazard went on to claim he has not even been Chelsea's best player this season as he hailed Juan Mata as the Blues' most influential performer, while he is pleased to see Belgian compatriots Romelu Lukaku (on loan at West Bromwich Albion) and Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) included on the PFA's Young Player of the Year nomination list.

"Juan is nominated [for PFA Player of the Year] and he played very well this season, scoring and making assists," he added. "For me he has been our best player.

"On the young list there is Lukaku and Benteke, the Belgians. Whoever wins I will be happy for them, but like I said, the team winning is more interesting to me."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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