Belgium and Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard’s impressive season was recognised by his peers when he won England’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award on Sunday.
The 24-year-old playmaker has scored 18 goals in all competitions so far this term, helping Chelsea win the English League Cup and leaving Jose Mourinho’s side poised to bring the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2010.
Victory in their next two matches — away to Leicester on Wednesday and at home to Crystal Palace next weekend — will see Chelsea, currently 10 points clear of nearest pursuers Arsenal and Manchester City, crowned champions of England.
Hazard, speaking at an awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel that took place hours after Chelsea’s goalless draw with Arsenal across London at the Emirates Stadium, said: “I’m very happy. One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well.
“I don’t know if I deserve to win but it is good for me.”
He added: “It is good, it is better to be voted by the players — they know everything about football. This is good. I’m very happy.”
Last season saw Hazard win the PFA’s Young Player of the Year prize but he preferred to focus on Chelsea’s progress as a team rather than his own performances.
“We are almost champions, maybe this is the key,” said Hazard. “Last season we finished third and this season we have an opportunity to win the league. This has changed from last season.”
Hazard thanked Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for giving him a relatively free hand on the field.
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