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  "path": "/2026/02/05/the-time-come-eden-hazard-tells-former-teammate-return-chelsea-26723893/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-05T15:01:29.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Cesc Fabregas",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Eden Hazard",
    "Liam Rosenior",
    "Premier League",
    "Chelsea",
    "Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day",
    "Champions League",
    "Gazzetta dello Sport",
    "Sign up here",
    "supports HTML5 video",
    "only two defeats coming against Arsenal in each leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final",
    "‘better choice’ for Chelsea than Rosenior",
    "face Manchester City in next month’s final",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Chelsea legend Eden Hazard (Picture: Getty)\n\nEden Hazard has revealed the conversation he had with his former Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas about returning to Stamford Bridge as manager.\n\nBlues legend Fabregas was tentatively linked with the Chelsea job after Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day.\n\nThe ex-Spain international, who won two Premier League titles at Chelsea, has impressed since taking over Italian side Como in 2024.\n\nComo finished 10th in Serie A last season and are currently sixth, four points outside the Champions League places.\n\nHazard believes Fabregas is ‘destined’ to become one of the best coaches in the world and admits he ‘dreams’ of seeing his former teammate in the Stamford Bridge dugout.\n\nThe Chelsea heroes were in regular contact last summer and Hazard made it clear to Fabregas that he wanted to see him return to west London.\n\n‘I’ll be honest, in the summer we talked a bit,’ Hazard, 35, told Gazzetta dello Sport.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\nDon't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? **Metro's** exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.\n\nFrom the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nComo boss and Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘I told him he was one of the best midfielders in history and that he’s destined to become one of the best coaches as well.\n\n‘I explained to him that the time has come for him to return to Chelsea, and he joked about it, but I really believe it. He loves football and knows everything about this spot.\n\n‘I’m a Chelsea fan, and I want the best for the club. That’s why I dream of seeing Cesc on their bench, while I’ll be staying in the stands behind him, enjoying the show.’\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nLiam Rosenior ended up being appointed by Chelsea to replace Maresca and has enjoyed a promising start to his Stamford Bridge tenure.\n\nChelsea have won six of their first eight games under the ex-Strasbourg boss, with their only two defeats coming against Arsenal in each leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.\n\nPaul Scholes, the former Manchester United and England midfielder, believes Fabregas would have been a ‘better choice’ for Chelsea than Rosenior.\n\n‘Do you know what? I actually like what Cesc Fabregas is doing,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.\n\n‘I think he might have been a better choice for Chelsea than Liam Rosenior.’\n\nChelsea were beaten 4-2 on aggregate by Arsenal in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. The Gunners will face Manchester City in next month’s final.\n\nRosenior’s side will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they return to Premier League action against bottom-placed Wolves.\n\n**For more stories like this,check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook, **Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "‘The time has come’ – Eden Hazard tells former teammate to return to Chelsea"
}