• Premier League

Hazard: Chelsea have failed this season

ESPN staff
May 15, 2014
Eden Hazard has been told to show more next season © AP
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Eden Hazard believes Chelsea's season was a failure after the club came up short in both the Premier League and Champions League.

The coveted midfielder is looking forward to next season at Stamford Bridge but has been left frustrated by his and the team's performances as they ended up an "almost" team.

"This season was an 'almost' season," Hazard said. "Almost in the Champions League final, almost champions in the Premier League. I hope next season it will better and we can go to the next level.

"In the English Premier League you play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United every week and it's very good, but I came here for trophies.

"This season was good for me, but not collectively because we didn't win anything, and last season we won the Europa League."

Manager Jose Mourinho, who has long scoffed at Chelsea's Europa League triumph under Rafael Benitez, insists the club have shown signs of progress and will win the Premier League next year.

He has also had his differences with Hazard, the pair at odds over a missed training session and the team's counter-attacking tactics.

Mourinho was scathing about the tactical criticism and has repeatedly called for Hazard to push on to an even higher level.

The latest call for more from the manager came as Hazard was presented with Chelsea's Player of the Year award on Monday and, this time, the Belgian is on-message with Mourinho.

"I know I have to do better, in training and on the pitch," Hazard said. "If I can score more I will score more and next season I hope I will be better.

"I want to be the best, I hope one day I can win the Ballon d'Or, maybe not now but if I work every day and take pleasure from my game then why not?

"The Champions League and the World Cup are the best competitions in the world. For a young player like me it's good to play for a club who can reach the semi-final or the final because that's why I play football, for the big games.

"Individually it's been good because I was able to play in almost every game, be on the pitch and do what I enjoy doing most, which is to play football."

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