Saturday, February 21, 2015

Hazard wants custom shin pads to protect from fouls, reveals Mourinho

Eden Hazard wants new custom-built shin pads to protect the backs of his legs from fouls, manager Jose Mourinho has revealed.
The Belgian is statistically the most fouled player in both the Premier League and Champions League this season and was awarded nine free-kicks during Chelsea's round of 16 first-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
And Mourinho, who has repeatedly called for referees to afford Hazard greater protection by booking those who target him, says the winger now wants a bespoke set of pads that cover his calves as well as his shins from the potential impact of fouls.
"Eden told me to speak with my friends who make the carbon shin pads," the Chelsea boss told reporters.
"I am not joking. He told me to speak with them because I am friends with the guy, to try to make it also for the back [of his calves]. Like a horse, when the horses do the jumping – in front and behind. Because now he gets [kicked] behind.
"I know [Hazard is the most fouled player], but he is not the player that as a consequence of that creates more cards for the opponent.
"Normally, you get 100 fouls and the opponents will get a certain percentage of yellow cards. So if he is the most fouled player, he should be the player that creates more cards for the opponent but he isn't.
"I know who is, but I don't say names because maybe the ones are the ones that want that and Eden doesn't want that. He wants to play. He doesn't want people to get cards and people to get a red card.
"I'm proud of him for being honest on the pitch and I leave it with the authorities to do something about the rest.
"Referees have to understand that sometimes little fouls are big fouls in the context of the game. A player that is a specialist in stopping counter-attacks. The team loses the ball, he makes the foul. It is a small foul, but it stops the counter-attack. And I think Eden is punished in both ways.
"If you see the game in Paris, he had nine fouls, but three of them were very bad fouls. Very dangerous fouls and nothing."

Source: goal

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