Belgium manager Marc Wilmots was quick to criticise star player Eden Hazard after he scored the winning goal for De Rode Duivels in their Euro 2016 qualifying match against European minnows Cyprus. Wilmots described Hazard as the ‘worst’ player on the night and thought about substituting him but thanks to his ability to produce necessary goals and assists at vital points in matches, he decided not to. Given that Hazard picked up the PFA Player of the Year award in the previous season, it’s expected that he consistently delivers high quality Football during all of his matches.
Hazard’s start to the 2015-16 campaign has been less than spectacular, with his impact for Chelseabeing limited. After Chelsea’s shock loss at home to Crystal Palace, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed that he was unhappy with the squads performance but when naming particular players that he was unhappy with to prove his point, Hazard’s name was one that was mentioned. Hazard himself has acknowledged that he hasn’t hit the heights expected of him this season saying: ‘You don’t need to know too much about football to compare what I did last season and what I did this season. I’m not as good.’ In the coming weeks the winger be looking to improve his performances to the level that they were last season.
Hazard wasn’t the only player to receive criticism from Wilmots as his teammate Christian Benteke wasn’t much better in the eyes of the manager. Benteke was taken off at half-time in order to make way for fellow Liverpool teammate Divock Origi, and Wilmots was more complementary of him, mentioning that his impact along with fellow substitute Dries Mertens made Belgium faster and more dangerous.
Belgium are currently second place in their qualifying group behind Wales and only need one more win to qualify directly for Euro 2016. The Red Devils are ranked as the second best team in the world and it was expected that they’d top their qualifying group, however the form of a formidable Wales side has stopped them from doing so. It is still possible for them to qualify in first place however they will need Hazard to be at his best.
