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Eden Hazard names Chelsea legend as the strongest player he’s ever encountered

Originally posted on A Stamford Bridge Too Far
By Arindam Talukdar | Last updated Nov 23, 2024 10:02 AM ET

Eden Hazard’s name undoubtedly belongs on the list of Chelsea legends and top players. Throughout his colourful career, Hazard played alongside some exceptionally strong teammates. From Diego Costa at Chelsea to Sergio Ramos at Real Madrid, Hazard shared the pitch with some of the most formidable players in football. In a TikTok interview with 90Min, Eden Hazard crafted his ultimate footballer by combining the best attributes of his former Chelsea and Real Madrid teammates. Among his intriguing picks, the winger highlighted Federico Valverde’s shooting as a standout quality.

For physicality, Hazard made a notable choice by selecting his former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba. He chose Drogba over other powerhouses like Diego Costa, Sergio Ramos, and Casemiro, naming him the strongest player he’s ever played alongside while crafting his dream footballer. This highlights the sheer dominance of the Ivorian, as Hazard has shared the pitch with countless legends throughout his career, yet Drogba still stands out as the strongest of them all.

Hazard made some interesting choices

Drogba and Hazard shared the pitch during Chelsea’s 2014/15 campaign, which culminated in a Premier League title win. Hazard’s selections in building his dream player were quite intriguing. He chose Federico Valverde for shooting, despite Valverde’s modest tally of 16 league goals for Real Madrid, and opted for Vincent Kompany for pace, even though the defender wasn’t particularly famed for his speed.

Drogba and Hazard shared just one season together at Chelsea, but what a season it turned out to be. Chelsea secured two trophies that year, with Hazard delivering electrifying performances throughout the campaign. Remarkably, Drogba was past his prime by then, yet his strength still made a lasting impression on Hazard despite his advancing years. The £24m forward wasn’t a regular starter that season, but he featured often alongside Hazard, and the duo boasted an impressive record when on the pitch together.

@90min
The perfect player doesn’t exist, but if he did, he might look something like this! We caught up with Eden Hazard at the launch of EA Sports FC 25 in Madrid. What do you make of his picks? #90min #edenhazard #easportsfc25 #footballtokdaily
♬ original sound – 90min – 90min

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Unfortunately, the prime of these two greats didn’t align. However, imagining a prime Hazard teaming up with a prime Drogba is scary—such a duo would undoubtedly have formed one of the most fearsome partnerships in Premier League history.

This article first appeared on A Stamford Bridge Too Far and was syndicated with permission.

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