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Chelsea star Eden Hazard has told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste News that he would like to work with former Blues manager Jose Mourinho again.
Hazard, who won the 2014-15 Premier League title under Mourinho, now in charge at Manchester United, was unable to halt the drastic slump in form that saw the manager sacked the following season.
He said he felt “a little bit guilty” about his part in Mourinho’s Stamford Bridge downfall and defended the manager’s approach.
“In 12 years I’ve only had one bad season — the last six months under Mourinho — and that was partly my own fault,” Hazard, named Premier League Player of the Month for September, said.
“After the title, we asked Mourinho for extra holidays. I came back totally out of shape.
“The last season under Mourinho was not enjoyable. We didn’t win, we got into a sort of routine, training without having fun, it was better for all parties that we parted ways.
“But if I’m asked now about one coach with whom I want to work again, I would say Mourinho.
“I don’t regret many things in my career, but that I have not been able to work with Mourinho at Chelsea any more is one of them. We had a team that could win more trophies. We just ended up in a negative cycle.
“I sent him a message to say I was sorry he had gone and that I was sorry. We’d enjoyed all that success together, but this time we hadn’t.
“I felt a little bit guilty because I’d been player of the year. I’d been one of the most decisive players, and then I performed less.”
Hazard defended Mourinho’s approach, saying some people’s perception of him as a negative coach was not fair and adding that he understood it was part of his style to criticise players.
“Mourinho’s image of an extremely defensive coach isn’t completely right,” the Belgium international said.
“He is far from adventurous like [Pep] Guardiola, but the season in which we became champions, we scored many goals and played good games.
“If the results are poor, Jose starts criticising his players. You know that, but afterwards I’ve been able to accept that — it’s part of his character.
“If you win, Mourinho is the best coach you can imagine. Then he is a friend of yours — you ask whatever you want.”
Earlier this week, Hazard ruled out the possibility of leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid in January.
Speaking after the win at Southampton on Sunday, Hazard said joining the European champions remains a “dream” and he wants to “make it happen,” but added that he remains open to talking about a new contract.
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