'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has said while the club were disappointed at being knocked out of the Champions League, the elimination may well turn out to be blessing in disguise for them. The Blues were knocked out of the Champions League by French giants Paris-Saint Germain(PSG) in the Round-of-16 on the basis of the away goal rule, earlier this month, but the Belgian believes that had they progressed through to the final eight, it might have had an overall impact on the other competitions as well.
"We were a little disappointed. At home, against 10 men, when you lead twice you should qualify.But on the other hand, if we had gone through to the quarterfinals, the fixture list would have been so hard to try and continue on all fronts. It is perhaps a blessing in disguise. We could have lost everything," Hazard told L’Equipe in an interview.
"The English league takes so much energy. After that, it's hard to move onto the European competitions.When you know that, at the weekend, you have a difficult game at West Ham, at Stoke, at Hull, and that you have to play a top European team in the week...,” he added.
The 24-year-old also didn't mince words in praising PSG for their performance and said that with a bit of fortune, things might have been different.
"Over the two games, Paris deserve their qualification. They played better than we did. Now, we only have the league. Our Champions League exit has not left a scar. We are going to have to win as many matches as possible to win a second trophy after the League Cup. That would be a good season.
"It's also just a bad year. We weren't lucky. Arsenal played a really good second game against Monaco. They could have gone through, just like us,” he said.
Will continue to improve in the coming days: Hazard
Hazard has scored 11 goals in 29 appearances for the club in the Premier League, this season and expressed happiness over his performances so far. He further said that he had improved as a player and will continue to do so as he has the chance to lay with and against some great players in the Premier League.
“I'm happy with it, as I was last season.I am continuing my apprenticeship. People expect Eden to score 30 to 40 goals a season. I don't think about doing that, I'm not like that.
“Yes [I will improve], because I play with and against great players. I have to up my game. I am gaining in experience. There are big games every weekend. Each year, I discover new qualities. This season, I am scoring with the head. Who would have thought it? I have improved,” he said.
"If there is a point on which I can work, it's of course to be more clinical -- to play more for myself, to score goals. But I am having a great season. I will perhaps have two trophies, and that will be great,” he added.
