Eden Hazard is still the best player in the Premier League - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho stands by his star

Out of form: Hazard has struggled to impose himself on games this season
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Simon Johnson18 September 2015

Jose Mourinho today insisted Eden Hazard is still the best player in the country and will remain first choice to take penalties for Chelsea.

Hazard has struggled since the start of the campaign and has looked a shadow of the man that won both the PFA and FWA Player of the Year last term.

The Belgium international’s lack of confidence was clear to see when he missed a penalty in the 4-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in midweek.

But when asked by Standard Sport if he will still take spot kicks, Mourinho said: “Yes. He's the best player in England.

“(For example) Just because Wayne Rooney doesn't score goals for three weeks it doesn’t mean he's not a fantastic player.

“And with Eden, he is the best player playing in this country. It's not because of a bad performance or a penalty lost or not he’s not scoring goals for three or four weeks that means he’s not.

“He is the best and he will be the best again. I don't know if it is tomorrow or if it is next week. But one of these days he will be man of the match.”

Mourinho even joked that Hazard’s spot kick may have had something to do with the start of the rugby world cup.

He added: “Maybe he agreed to do it for some sponsor to promote the world cup. But he’s the best penalty taker in this country too.

“If the ball is on the spot he’s my first option. But we shouldn’t worry too much because in the Premier League he doesn’t have many chances to take penalties.”

Mourinho also downplayed the significance of leaving captain John Terry on the bench against Maccabi Tel Aviv and is adamant the veteran centre half still has his complete backing.

The 34-year-old played every minute of every League game last term, but his position in the side has come into doubt having also been substituted at half-time in the defeat at Manchester City last month.

Mourinho said: “I think you have to look at the situation like this. Last season he played every minute – two seasons ago he didn’t, three seasons ago it was even less. So what’s the problem?

“He is a player of my total confidence and I trust him as always. He is one of my men and just because he is on the bench one time or I take him off at half-time, nothing changes.”

Mourinho made it clear that Chelsea’s poor form, they have lost three of their five League games, has nothing to do with a fall-out with any of his squad.

“I don't have any problem with any one of my players,” he declared.

“When bad things in football happen the first thing people want to do is to find a dramatic story - ’Somebody punched someone; Diego Costa fought with John and they organise like the Wild West duels with a translator; Mourinho doesn’t want to give new contracts to Terry and Branislav Ivanovic; Mourinho is sending scouts out and wants a new right-back’.

Five things we learnt at Chelsea vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

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“The direction you don’t go in is the direction that’s real. You (the team) lose confidence, you fear the ball, you fear the worst and when you are in front of goal you are affected in front of goal.

“The good thing against Maccabi is that we wanted a good start and we did that. We missed a penalty and that moment was good because it was a fantastic reaction.

“I don’t say we need to win 15 matches in a row. It’s important for people to be a bit more relaxed and more confident. The taste of victory is important.”

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