Antonio Conte 'not worried' about keeping Eden Hazard at Chelsea amid Real Madrid transfer interest

Simon Johnson16 January 2018

Antonio Conte insists he is not worried about trying to keep Eden Hazard happy at Chelsea and will always put the success of the team first.

Hazard has completed 90 minutes for the Blues just once in his last eight appearances for the Blues and was surprisingly taken off early in the second half of Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Leicester on Saturday.

The Belgium international remains a target for Real Madrid this summer and has postponed further talks on a new contract with Chelsea until later in the season.

Hazard missed the start of the campaign due to a fractured ankle and Conte is keen to protect his prize asset.

When asked if Hazard agrees with his treatment, Conte replied: “This is not important. I'm the coach. I decide. It's not important if one player is happy or not.

“Only here (at Chelsea) is there this situation. You are very worried about whether a player is happy or not. This is not important.

“My first task is to do the best for the team and the club. Not to make every player happy. Otherwise we'd risk finishing 20th in the table.

“Every press conference there is always this question about whether I'm worried about making my players happy. No. I'm worried to win.”

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Leicester City | 13/01/2018

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Hazard has been Chelsea’s best player since returning to action in September, but has struggled to make an impression in the last two matches.

Conte continued: “We are talking about a player who, recently, had a bad injury in his ankle and surgery. Usually, when you have this type of situation, you must pay great attention.

“During the season you can have ups and downs. He missed the pre-season with us, too. I think that, with him, we are trying to find the best way.

“It's normal that one player can't keep always top of the form. But, like the others, my task is to try and improve him and try and put him in the best physical condition to take the best decision for the team during games. Not only for him, but for every single player.”

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