Former Chelsea playmaker and club legend Eden Hazard has expressed his admiration for the early-season connection between Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers, while urging the attacking trio to keep scoring goals and enjoying themselves on the pitch.
Hazard, who remains a keen follower of Chelsea, said he has been impressed by the way the three forwards have combined during the opening stages of the season.
The Belgian was speaking about Chelsea’s start to the campaign and the emergence of Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro as a dangerous attacking combination.
Palmer has scored four goals and provided two assists, while Rogers, who arrived from Aston Villa in the summer for £117 million and the most expensive British player, has registered three goals and six assists.
João Pedro, meanwhile, has three goals and three assists across Chelsea’s Premier League and EFL Carabao Cup matches so far.
Their individual contributions have been matched by a growing understanding between the three attackers, something that has caught the attention of one of Chelsea’s most celebrated former forwards. “I like it. I like when they link together. Of course, I want them to score a lot of goals and have fun,” Hazard said.
The former Belgium international was also asked whether the current attacking trio could eventually be compared with the front three he played alongside during his Chelsea career. “Yeah, I think so. We need to give them time, but Rodgers is new, Cole is a bit old now, but he still has the quality,” Hazard said.
Hazard Calls for Patience as Trio Develops
While Hazard sees similarities between the current group and the attacking combinations of his Chelsea era, he stressed that Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro need time to establish themselves together.
Rogers is still adapting to his role within Chelsea’s attacking structure, while Palmer has already developed into one of the team’s key creative outlets. João Pedro has added another attacking dimension with his movement, finishing and ability to combine with those around him.
For Hazard, however, the immediate priority is not comparisons with previous Chelsea sides but allowing the players to enjoy their football and continue producing in front of goal. “Like I said before, I just want to see them having fun on the pitch, scoring goals, and as a Chelsea fan, we want them to win things,” he added.
Hazard’s comments also reflect his continued emotional connection with Chelsea and his desire to see the Blues back challenging for major honours. “All my kids are big Chelsea fans, so we have to watch every time they play,” he said, adding that he wants to see the club “at the top again.”
The Belgian also acknowledged the difficulty of turning an encouraging start into silverware, particularly in the Premier League.
“It’s the Premier League, so it’s not easy,” Hazard said when asked about Chelsea’s chances of winning trophies this season.
Hazard’s Numbers During His Time At Chelsea
Hazard knows what it takes to perform at the highest level in a Chelsea shirt, having joined the club from French side Lille in 2012.
During seven seasons at Stamford Bridge, he established himself as one of the club’s outstanding attacking players. He made 352 appearances in all competitions and scored 110 goals while providing 92 assists.
His Premier League record alone was equally impressive, with 85 goals and 51 assists in 245 appearances.
Hazard’s final appearance for Chelsea came in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku, where he scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-1 victory that secured Chelsea’s second Europa League title.
Real Madrid Struggles and Early Retirement
Eden Hazard subsequently joined Real Madrid in 2019, but recurring injuries prevented him from reproducing his Chelsea form in Spain.
Hazard eventually announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32 in October 2023.
Now watching from outside the game, Hazard’s message to Chelsea’s current attacking stars is to keep building their understanding, keep scoring and, above all, enjoy playing together.
With Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro already contributing goals and assists, their developing partnership has given Chelsea supporters another attacking combination to watch as the season progresses.
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