LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has declared Eden Hazard the laziest footballer he’s ever had as a teammate.
Mikel and Hazard shared the pitch for five seasons at Chelsea, from 2012 to Mikel’s departure in 2016.
During their Chelsea tenure, they achieved numerous honours, including a Premier League title, the UEFA Europa League, and the FA Cup.
Hazard made a move to Real Madrid in 2018, where he struggled with injuries and poor form.
Last month, he decided to retire from professional football to enjoy his life further.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel shared his observations about training alongside the Belgian star.
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“He is the laziest footballer I’ve ever seen in my life, but then, come the weekend, he wins the man-of-the-match award, and then he comes in and shows everyone. He’s like, come on, guys, you see,” said the former Super Eagles midfielder.
Obi added that Hazard’s eating habits stood out.
“If you look at him now, he’s lost a little weight, but when he was at Chelsea, the night before the game, after dinner, he’d sit for like twenty minutes, eating his rice pudding. He likes his food,” Obi shared.
Despite his perceived faults during training sessions, Hazard consistently delivered top-notch performances during matches.
“He then goes to bed, wakes up in the morning, shows up for the game by 3 p.m., and produces.
“In training, he isolates himself and doesn’t really participate. He just smacks about but then comes up with the goods on the weekends,” concluded Obi.