Scholes: Hazard needs to be selfish like Ronaldo and Messi

The ex-Man Utd midfielder believes the Belgian is “not
streets ahead” of Harry Kane and says the Chelsea winger
needs to improve his scoring record

Paul Scholes believes Eden Hazard needs to improve his
goalscoring record if he is to be considered one of the best

players in the world. The Belgium international has been

pivotal in Chelsea’s Premier League title challenge this

season with 13 goals and eight assists in 32 appearances.

But Scholes has questioned whether Hazard has the

“hunger” to keep scoring goals, and says he must

become more ruthless if he wants to challenge Cristiano

Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the crown of the world’s best.

“One thing I do wonder with Hazard is whether he has that

hunger to score goals that you see in Ronaldo, Messi and

[Luis] Suarez,” Scholes wrote in The Independent.

“Those are players who have a ferocious appetite to put the

ball in the net. They’re unstoppable. Hazard seems to me to

be a relatively gentle soul. One who is just as happy skipping

past a couple of opponents and putting it on a plate for a

team-mate.

“He does that very well, and I have no doubt he will

deserve his accolade at the PFA awards. Playing the way he

does, under pressure to score goals and make them, is not

easy and he has been a big part of Chelsea’s success.

But in this modern age, if he wishes to challenge the

achievements of Messi and Ronaldo then he will have to

prove that he can match their relentless desire to score

goals.”

However, despite his criticisms, Scholes says he would vote

for Hazard to win the PFA Player of the Year award ahead of

Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

Kane has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough campaign at

White Hart Lane and has found the net 30 times in all

competitions so far this term.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Arsenal’s

Alexis Sanchez, Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and

Chelsea striker Diego Costa are also named on the PFA’s

shortlist.

“My vote would go to Eden Hazard,” Scholes added. “I prefer

the attacking footballers – you wouldn’t expect me to say

otherwise – and Hazard has been the best in that regard.

“Not streets ahead of the likes of Harry Kane, and nothing

like the wow-factor of those two big players at Barcelona

and Real Madrid. But Hazard has made the difference in big

games, like the one against Manchester United.”