“I told Zidane: I can’t do more, I’m done”: Eden Hazard talks about his injury and the extra kilograms | sports

1h27 full of stories and lots of fun. Hazard was completely himself on 'The Obi One Podcast'.

“I can do what I want, spend time with my family and children. I love him. I don't really miss football. I mean, playing it yourself, the locker room jokes are a different story. But I can play football with my children in the park, and that is more than enough. I still watch the matches from time to time. My friends, my brothers still play soccer, so… but staying focused for ninety minutes? I can not do that. I watch for ten minutes, then go do something else and then start again. Moreover, there are many “boring games”. I don't look at that.”

“Whenever I lost a match, I tried to forget it as quickly as possible. In football you can't win every match. But this situation also had to do with my upbringing. My father used to say after a defeat: 'You lost and played badly, but next week you will be “There's another chance. Why are you sad? Have fun with your friends.'”

“Every summer I gained four or five kilograms. I said to myself: 'You give so much during the season, free time is free time.' So you didn't have to ask me to run during those weeks. I enjoyed going to the beach with my family. And I love Good food. Ask me something to eat and I'll do it – even if I don't like it. The occasional beer isn't bad either. I didn't drink every day, but sometimes after a good game… In Belgium we have the best beer in the world, right?

“I was injured, had surgery in Dallas, and when I came back there was Covid. I was at home, and I had to recover on my own. “There is no physical therapy.” If I could change one thing, it would be that. Then I say to the doctor: Get a physical therapist I need a good rehabilitation. After Covid, I returned to the field and pushed my body to its limits. But my ankle didn't feel the same. When we became champions, I said to Zinedine Zidane: I can't do more, I have finished. My body is suffering. “I need good rehabilitation.”

“Jose Mourinho knew I was on the pitch to win games for Chelsea. He just told me to do my job. During training he would sometimes say:No Eden kick'. (He laughs) I liked that. Antonio Conte… I especially tried to enjoy my Saturday when he was coach. Because I knew we had to get back on the field for training the next day. And sometimes two hours of tactics, I didn't like that. But I lived my best period when he was Chelsea coach.”

“A lot has also been said about my relationship with Carlo Ancelotti. But we always had a lot of respect for each other. He was one of the best coaches I had. At the Red Devils we had a great coach in Roberto Martinez. The team was built in the previous period by Marc Wilmots “Martinez brought more tactics and discipline, and changed some things in the locker room. It was a great six years with him as a national coach. Even though we didn't win anything in the end.”

“Kevin is the best in the Premier League when he's on his day. Maybe even in the world. He sees things that other players don't see. The freedom he gets from Guardiola helps him with that. Jeremy Doku has everything to achieve this. He is now also training with Guardiola, So he will get better. And by the way, watch out for Belgium in the next European Championship. People always talk about the golden generation, but these guys are good too.

For me, Zidane is “the greatest”. (He laughs) Then John Obi Mikel and Messi, he's my favorite footballer. Cristiano Ronaldo? It is and will continue to be a guarantee of goals, right.”

“They play football. But they can do whatever they want. If it's not football, they'll do something else. The only good thing is: If they want to play football, I can teach them things. But becoming a professional is not easy, is it? I also know it's hard to have a last name like that. It doesn't make it any easier. But they can do whatever they want, man. If they want to play tennis, they can play tennis. If they want to play golf, they can play golf.

“The future in football? No. Not as a manager. I want to do something in football, but on the condition that I can work with children. When they are six or seven years old. At first, when they just want to play and have fun. When there is no “Money in the game, no tactics. 'Just fun.' That's what football is all about.”