Chelsea could be about to enter the lucrative shin-pad production industry after Eden Hazard has requested some special equipment to protect his oft-kicked legs.
The tricky winger has been fouled more than any player in the Premier League and has reached out to manager Jose Mourinho for further protection from injury.
“Eden told me to speak with my friends who make the carbon shin pads,” said Mourinho. “I am not joking. He told me to speak with them because I am friends with the guy, to try to make it also for the back [calves]. Like a horse, when the horses do the jumping – in front and behind. Because now he gets [kicked] behind.”
The Belgian playmaker has been fouled 74 times in the 25 Premier League games this season and the issue of protection reached a head after being sent to the grass nine times during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with PSG midweek.
“I know [Hazard has been fouled more than anyone else], but he is not the player that as a consequence of that creates more cards for the opponent,” Mourinho added.
“Normally, you get 100 fouls and the opponents will get a certain percentage of yellow cards. So if he is the most fouled player, he should be the player that creates more cards for the opponent but he isn’t.
“I know who is, but I don’t say names because maybe the ones are the ones that want that and Eden doesn’t want that. He wants to play. He doesn’t want people to get cards and people to get a red card.”
“I’m proud of him for being honest on the pitch and I leave it with the authorities to do something about the rest,” Mourinho said.
“Referees have to understand that sometimes little fouls are big fouls in the context of the game. A player that is a specialist in stopping counter-attacks. The team loses the ball, he makes the foul. It is a small foul, but it stops the counter-attack. And I think Eden is punished in both ways.
“If you see the game in Paris, he had nine fouls, but three of them were very bad fouls. Very dangerous fouls and nothing.”
Don’t be surprised to see poor Eden line out against Burnley today in one of these little numbers.
H/t to The Telegraph
