'I had to apologise' — Chelsea legend Hazard reflects on 'bad moments' with Jose Mourinho

Eden Hazard has opened up about some of the difficult moments he endured while playing under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

The 35-year-old Belgian, who was recently inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, remains a fan favourite at Chelsea, having secured two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and two Europa League trophies before his 2019 move to Real Madrid.

While Hazard was the driving force behind Mourinho’s 2014-15 title triumph, contributing 14 goals and nine assists, their polarising attitudes often led to friction.

Speaking recently to The Guardian, Hazard admitted their relationship wasn't always smooth.

"I don’t have just one [spat], I have many," Hazard recalled.

"I remember once, during the first year Mourinho arrived, I went to Lille to watch a game and lost my passport on the way back."

The mishap left Hazard stranded and unable to attend training. "I wasn’t allowed back into England and missed training. I returned around 2pm. When the session was over, I had to apologise to him. It was a really bad moment for me."Mourinho, known for his strict discipline, took immediate action.

"The next week, he pulled me out of the team and said it was my fault, but by the weekend I was back playing, and it went well," Hazard added.

Despite the tension that eventually led to Mourinho's sacking in December 2015, the respect between the two remains intact.

Reflecting on the Portuguese manager's influence, Hazard noted: "So many things. His passion for football, the way he trusts players… the way we trained with him was unbelievable."