MY ACCOUNT
Belgium star Eden Hazard feels he is returning to his best after his side came from 1-0 down against Poland on Wednesday to storm home for a 6-1 Nations League win.
From the moment Robert Lewandowski put Poland ahead in the 28th minute, it would be all Belgium, controlling 60 per cent of the possession for the match while producing nine shots on target to zero in the second half.
Axel Witsel made it 1-1 before half-time, before the Red Devils’ dynamic duo combined, with Hazard assisting Kevin De Bruyne to pull ahead 2-1.
The last 20 minutes was an attacking exhibition from the Belgians, with two goals to Leandro Trossard, one to Leander Dendoncker, before Lois Openda completed the rout in the 93rd minute.
Speaking to RTL Sport after the win, Hazard said consistent playing time will be the key to returning to his top form.
“I’m going back to being the player I was,” he said. “I will become the player I was again by stringing together games, minutes.
“In the team, there was no more desire than against the Netherlands, it’s the score that is very different.
“But it’s true that after Friday’s defeat, we talked to each other and made resolutions. But it remains between us, a secret.
“It’s a great reaction from the team. We needed to answer after the defeat, it’s done, I think a lot of people will sleep well – and me too.”
Hazard also highlighted the depth of the Belgian squad, and that he hopes there will be some rotation in the starting-11.
“There are two matches left, we will go to Wales and Poland to win,” he said. “I hope coach [Roberto] Martínez will consider that there are plenty of players who can play – not just 11 or 12 players. We really are a group”
While Hazard wants to see some fresh faces getting some run, Martinez made it clear that the Real Madrid man is not willing to be the one to take a seat – and that he is looking like his former self.
“When you see Eden Hazard walk into a room, you can see straight away if he is happy or not,” he said. “And there it is clear: there is no more pain.
“He was better today, his physical stats today are as good as they have been in the past. Hazard’s idea is to be in all four games to give him the rhythm he needs.”
Martinez was also full of praise of the combination of Trossard and Dendoncker, saying the future of Belgian football remains bright.
“There is a lot of satisfaction tonight, in many areas,” he said. “Players have met expectations, such as Leandro Trossard or Leander Dendoncker in defence.
“Leandro Trossard, we have seen him grow over time. And he is one of the examples why Belgium should never worry about the talent there is in this country. For some, talent must take its time to develop.
“Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard have had a constant evolution since their arrival in the national team. Leandro must be inspired by boys like Eden Hazard to understand the ‘gap’ that can exist with the world’s top, but he has come so far.
“Dendoncker, sometimes we don’t give him enough credit because he is versatile, between a defender and a midfielder. But he never let the team down, defensively he was very alert.
“We saw that Dendoncker could project himself as a midfielder. It was Leander’s most mature performance with the national team. There were a lot of games where he proved he could be trusted, and that was the case again tonight.”
