Chelsea news: Eden Hazard aims thinly veiled dig at former boss Jose Mourinho after 'ugly' season

The Belgian has returned to form this season, helping the Blues make a 100 per cent start

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Eden Hazard has aimed a thinly veiled swipe at Jose Mourinho by saying Antonio Conte has knitted the Chelsea dressing room back together again after an “ugly” campaign.

The Belgian has returned to form under Conte this season, helping the Blues make a 100 per cent start under the former Juventus manager, and Hazard has attributed his recent renaissance to the new regime at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho is now in charge at Manchester United, among the favourites to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2013, but Hazard has delivered a message of support for the Portuguese’s replacement in west London.

Hazard said: “Conte puts trust in his players and now we are good after an ugly season last year.”

The 25-year-old, who won the PFA Player of the Year in 2014/15, saved his most cutting remark for later, however, in a reference to Conte’s glittering career as a player. Mourinho, on the other hand, famously retired early to concentrating on coaching.

He added: “I’ve always been the same player but Conte knows how to treat players having played at the highest level himself.”

Meanwhile, David Luiz says he is willing to play wherever Conte elects to play him with some interpreting his £32m return to Chelsea as an expression of the Italian’s desire to switch back to the 3-5-2 system he utilised while head coach of the Italian national side.

Luiz said: “I started playing three at the back with Vitoria in Brazil, but it doesn’t matter where, I want to help and when I am in the team I am there to try to help.

“The coach is an amazing coach, he understands a lot of tactical things and I know he chooses every match the best line up, so if he needs to play three, four or two, it doesn’t matter, I am there if he wants me to play.

“In different positions I am available. We don’t have the Champions League to fight for so for sure we will try to win the Premier League and both cups.”