Chelsea: Jose Mourinho refuses to criticise underperforming star man, although stats suggest a decline

Jose Mourinho has insisted that Eden Hazard remains the best player in the Premier League, despite failing to hit the heights in recent weeks.

Chelsea have started the season disastrously. Of their five EPL matches to date, the Pensioners have won only one, drawn one, and lost three—including a miserable demolition at the hands of title rivals Manchester City. In the league, the Blues are on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Crystal Palace and then Everton.

They restored some measure of confidence with a 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Champions League in midweek, but Hazard was again off the pace. The Belgium international blazed a penalty over the bar during the contest, a sign, perhaps, of a lack of confidence.

The 24-year-old has struggled to impress in the Premier League so far this season, contributing only one assist and failing to score in his five EPL games to date. Last season, the forward averaged 4.8 successful dribbles per match, but that has fallen to three-per-match so far this season.

However, Mourinho has refused to criticise his star man, and has instead insisted that Hazard remains one of his key men and the best player in the Premier League.

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“He’s the best player in England,” the Portuguese coach began, as reported by talkSPORT.

“He is the best and he will be the best again. I don’t know if it is tomorrow or if it is next week.”