Spurs boss Jose Mourinho reportedly predicted Eden Hazards ongoing injury woes six years ago, when the pair worked together at Chelsea, Daily Mail.
The Real Madrid and Belgium star is faced with another four to six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury in what is his ninth setback since joining the club in 2019.
Belgium national team doctors described Hazard’s injury problems as ‘chronic’ and the £150million winger hasn’t been able to complete a full 90 minutes since November 23, 2019.
Mourinho during his second spell at Chelsea, insisted that Hazard wasn’t protected enough by referees and was taking some heavy challenges in the Premier League.
The Portuguese tactician had warned that it could cut Hazard’s career short, but it appeared his statement wasn’t taken seriously.
He said at the time: “People [are] in love with football in this country; people must be in love with Eden Hazard.
“The way, match after match, he’s being punished by opponents and he’s not being protected by referees, maybe one day we don’t have Eden Hazard.
“It’s one, two, three, four, five, 10 aggressive fouls against him. They kick and kick and kick, and the kid resists.
“He’s a very honest guy in the way he plays, but that’s another problem.’
Mourinho made the comments after Chelsea had lost 5-3 at Tottenham on New Year’s Day 2015. Mourinho and the Chelsea bench had demanded a red card when Federico Fazio had brought Hazard down when he was in on goal.
Hazard was one of the Premier League’s most fouled players that season but Chelsea went on to win the Premier League title.
Hazard’s move to Santiago Bernabeu has been marred by injuries with the winger managing 35 appearances since joining the Spanish champions.
His latest injury will likely keep him out of the first leg of Real’s Champions League last-16 tie against Atalanta this month.
