Eden Hazard can’t wait to show new Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte what he is capable off tonight.
Hazard will captain Belgium against Conte’s Italy side as they face off in a Group E clash that promises to be the most exciting encounter of Euro 2016 so far.
The pair will be teaming up at Stamford Bridge next season but remain enemies on the field in Lyon this evening as they begin their European Championship campaigns.
Hazard endured a nightmare season in west London in 2015-16 as he struggled to find form and fitness in a Chelsea side fighting at the wrong end of the table.
Conte’s appointment as the club’s new manager has brought renewed optimism of a revival and Hazard sees tonight as an opportunity to impress his new boss.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow night to get started,” Hazard told a press conference.
“It is a great competition, being played in my second home country, so I am impatient to get going. This is the moment that our country has been waiting for.
“I am happy to play against my future Coach and hope to show he can count on me. We aim to reach the Final, it won’t be easy, but we’ll take it one game at a time.
“I appreciate being the captain. I am not someone who talks very much, but I want to show my captaincy on the pitch with the ball and set the example.
“Kevin De Bruyne and I are two players who can make the difference. Some days it’s me, some days Kevin, but we do play together.
“We saw already that the big teams had some tough matches to start with, but we’ll give our best. Our team has quality and we must create as many scoring opportunities as possible.
“The first match is the most important, as starting with a defeat would not be positive. It would put a lot of pressure on us. Everyone thinks Belgium are a great side, but I don’t believe we are the best in the tournament. We hope for at least a draw against Italy.
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“In terms of quality, Italy and Belgium can emerge from this group, but Sweden have one of the best players in the world and Ireland have a lot of quality too. We’ll do everything to finish top.
“The midfield is our strongest section, as we have players who run hard with quantity and quality, including shots from distance.”
That Belgian midfield includes Roma star Radja Nainggolan, a man Chelsea boss Conte is desperate to sign this summer , with talks having already taken place with the tenacious anchorman.
And Belgium skipper Hazard confessed that he and club-mate Thibaut Courtois have been trying to lure the all-action midfielder to West London.
“Thibaut Courtois and myself would love him to come to Chelsea,” Hazard added of the enforcer."I think he is one of the best midfielders in the world."
