In a recent episode of the Obi One Podcast, former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, opened up about his experience playing alongside Eden Hazard, whom he described as the most laid-back footballer he ever shared the pitch with.
Mikel and Hazard were teammates for five seasons at Chelsea, from 2012 until Mikel’s departure in 2016, during which they clinched multiple prestigious titles, including the Premier League, UEFA Europa League, and FA Cup.
However, Hazard’s stint with Real Madrid, which began in 2018, was marred by injuries and poor form, leading to a lackluster period at the club. Hazard, who recently announced his retirement, humorously stated that it was time to enjoy a few more beers.
On the podcast, Mikel vividly recounted what it was like to train with the Belgian forward.
“He is the laziest footballer I’ve ever seen in my life, but then, come the weekend, and he wins the man-of-the-match award, and then he comes in and shows everyone. He’s like, come on guys, you see,” the former Super Eagles midfielder said.
“If you look at him now, he’s lost a little weight, but when he was at Chelsea, the night before the game, after dinner, he’ll sit for like twenty minutes, eating his rice pudding. He likes his food,” Obi added.
Obi emphasized that, despite Hazard’s shortcomings in training, his on-field performance consistently delivered excellence.
“He then goes to bed, wakes up in the morning, shows up to the game by 3 pm, and produces. In training, he isolates himself and doesn’t really participate. He just smacks about, but then comes up with the goods on the weekends.”