Eden Hazard says it’s now time for Chelsea to win the Champions League again.
The Blues only success in European football’s premier club competition came the season prior to the Belgian international joining.
Since his relocation to London from Ligue 1 outfit Lille the furthest Chelsea have gone is reaching the semi-finals in 2014 and Hazard feels this is the season they must gone one better.
“This year is really important. I have reached the semi-final with Chelsea [in 2014], when we lost to Atletico Madrid, so it’s in my head to win this trophy,” he said, as reported by Goal.
“I have won the Premier League, I have won the title in France, I have won cups, but big players always want to win the Champions League.
“I think now it is time to win this. We have a good squad, we have a good manager, so we are ready for it.
“You want to play these kind of games because every time you play in the Champions League it’s a big game and everybody is watching you.
“I hate having to watch it on TV, I just want to be on the pitch. That isn’t a good feeling so yes, we are happy to be back.”
Antonio Conte’s side, who clinched last season’s Premier League title, find themselves in a group with Atlético Madrid – who reached the 2014 final at their expense – Roma and Azerbaijan champions Qarabağ.
Their group stage campaign begins at home to Qarabağ before visiting Atlético Madrid, afterwards it’s back-to-back games with Roma home then away, followed by a trip to Baku and then finishing it off by welcoming Diego Simeone’s men.
Hazard will undoubtedly play a key role. To say he’s important for the Blues is an understatement.
Prior to this weekend’s victory over Leicester City, a game which marked Hazard’s first of the season after returning from a serious ankle injury, he featured featured across 174 leagues matches for the Londoners registering 57 goals and creating a further 42 for his teammates.
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