Chelsea icon Eden Hazard has offered a rare glimpse into his complex relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho, detailing a high-stakes disciplinary clash that nearly derailed their early partnership at Stamford Bridge. Speaking in an extensive interview with The Guardian, the recently inducted Premier League Hall of Famer admitted that his time under the Portuguese tactician, while successful, was marked by several intense confrontations. One specific event during Mourinho’s first season back in West London remains etched in Hazard’s memory as a low point in his professional career.
The incident occurred after Hazard traveled to France to watch his former club, Lille, in action. The trip turned into a logistical nightmare when the winger lost his passport on his return journey, leaving him stranded and unable to re-enter England in time for a scheduled training session. By the time Hazard reached the Cobham training ground at 2:00 pm, the morning session had already concluded, forcing the young star to deliver an immediate and humbling apology to a famously strict Mourinho.
“I had many confrontations,” Hazard admitted. “One standout incident happened during Mourinho’s first year. I had traveled to Lille to watch a game and, unfortunately, lost my passport on the return trip. I was not allowed back into England and I missed training. I returned around 2 pm when the training session was over and I had to apologize to him. It was a really bad moment for me.”
True to his reputation for uncompromising discipline, Mourinho took swift action the following week by removing Hazard from the matchday squad as a direct punishment for his lack of punctuality and focus. The manager publicly cited the player’s personal error as the reason for his exclusion, sending a clear message to the rest of the dressing room. However, the period of exile proved short-lived; by the following weekend, Hazard returned to the starting lineup and delivered a performance that helped restore their working relationship.
“The following week, Mourinho removed me from the team, saying it was my fault. However, by the weekend, I was back on the pitch, and things went well,” the Belgian reflected.
Despite these occasional frictions, Hazard and Mourinho eventually combined to lead Chelsea to the 2014-15 Premier League title, a season in which Hazard swept the individual Player of the Year awards. While their tenure ended amidst the club’s struggles in late 2015, Hazard remains appreciative of the lessons in professionalism and passion he gained from “The Special One.” Now enjoying retirement as a self-described “taxi driver” for his five children, Hazard looks back at these heated moments as essential chapters in his development into one of the league’s most mesmerizing talents.
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