Conte cannot guarantee that Eden Hazard will stay at Chelsea
"I can give my opinion, but it's the club who will have the last word. I hope he continues here with us, but I don't have a crystal ball", the Chelsea manager said today. Liverpool v. Chelsea live online
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits that is it left up to him, he would block any attempts to prise Eden Hazard away from Stamford Bridge but added that he can give no guarantees that the player, who has been linked to Real Madrid, will still be at the club next season.
Club will have last word on Hazard's future says Conte
Conte believes that 26-year-old Hazard will opt to stay with Chelsea, where he is under contract until June 2020: “I think that it's impossible for me to take this responsibility - not only for Eden, but for every single player. In this situation it's the club who will have the last word. I can give my opinion, but as I say, it is the club who will have the final say”.
The Italian went on to add: “I think that Eden is happy to stay here with us at Chelsea. That I can say, but I don't have a crystal ball”.
Conte concluded: “'I don't think that this idea to sell Hazard is in the mind of the club because I think that we have to improve the team, reinforce the team. But you know that in football there is also the will of the player, who I think is happy to stay”.
Zidane, one of Hazard's biggest fans
Hazard joined Chelsea on a 35 million euro deal from from Lille in 2012. This season he has netted 16 goals in 37 games. During his time in France, he caught the eye of Zinedine Zidane, who recommended that Real Madrid sign him on a number of occasions. Hazard has been linked to Madrid as a possible replacement for James Rodríguez, should the Colombian move on in the summer.