When the time got here for Eden Hazard to wave goodbye to Lille, his membership legend standing had lengthy been secured. For sure, he wasn’t going out with a whimper.
Hazard had already been a standout participant in Lille’s gorgeous 2010-11 Ligue 1 triumph, the membership’s first league title in over 50 years, whereas his star shone even brighter the next yr, ending as their high scorer with a career-best 22 objectives.
Twenty of these objectives got here within the league, with an additional 16 assists. Obscene numbers past what even Neymar is reaching within the French top-flight right now.
It was apparent that the Belgium worldwide’s expertise belonged at one in all Europe’s elite golf equipment.
Certain sufficient, on the finish of the season, he abruptly ended years of protracted tabloid hypothesis and introduced on Twitter that he was becoming a member of the champions of Europe, Chelsea.
However whereas Roberto Di Matteo’s Blues performed out that remaining in Munich, Hazard was nonetheless in France, out on the lash one final time together with his Lille team-mates.
“We have been sure to complete third and we have been going through Nancy the next day,” former Lille captain Rio Mavuba later revealed. “It was Eden Hazard’s final match with Lille and he needed to organise a bit of one thing.
“We determined to go have a bit of drink. Somewhat drink that dragged on considerably. The next morning, Eden was nonetheless drunk. That night towards Nancy, not even with half-hour performed, Eden had already bagged a hat-trick.”
There was actually no signal of a hangover come kick-off, with a boyish grin as he seemed out throughout a packed-out Stadium Lille Metropole – additionally Lille’s final recreation there, after an eight-year exile within the out-of-town athletics venue – stuffed with banners studying ‘Merci Eden’ amongst Belgian flags, exhibiting their love for a 21-year-old who’d already turn into one of many best gamers within the membership’s historical past.
Brazilian striker Tulio de Melo led the road, whereas Hazard supported from the best, with Dimitri Payet on the other flank, Joe Cole working within the No.10 position, future PSG man Idrissa Gueye on the base of midfield and 18-year-old academy graduate Lucas Digne making an early look at left-back.
It didn’t take that particular facet lengthy to wreak havoc towards midtable Nancy, and the gamers appeared to revel within the lack of stress in a recreation that had extra the air of a testimonial. Similar to the night time earlier than, they have been there to take pleasure in themselves.
Not even 10 minutes had passed by earlier than Hazard was put by way of after some elegant one-touch interaction between Cole and De Melo within the centre of the park. He made no mistake together with his end.
Stood in a huddle to have a good time, there was some extent of choreography in what gave the impression to be a less-than-subtle nod – or the other, in reality, tilting their heads again to mime necking booze – to the earlier night time’s antics.
Whereas there was no lack of sharpness within the slick passing or dead-eyed ending for the opener, some sloppy defending at a set-piece allowed the guests to get again on degree phrases inside a few minutes as Nancy full-back Reynald Lemaitre discovered himself free to ship a glancing head in on the close to publish.
However Lille weren’t going to permit Hazard’s farewell occasion to be ruined, and shortly sufficient Payet produced a trademark silky contact to show his man earlier than nutmegging one other Nancy defender to tee up De Melo, who tapped house to regain their lead within the twenty first minute.
Nancy had sufficient to fret about with a younger Hazard on the peak of his powers. Dealing with an in-the-mood Payet as properly? That’s simply merciless.
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READ: When Joe Cole, Eden Hazard & Dimitri Payet lived out my soccer dream
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With a lead restored and the pouring rain failing to dampen the occasion environment, Lille sniffed blood and rapidly put Nancy to the sword.
Having obtained the ball simply exterior the centre circle, Payet exhibited one other string to his bow, by sending a looping by way of ball excessive of Nancy’s backline.
The alcohol in his system evidently hadn’t dulled Hazard’s attacking instincts, given he was on his toes to learn the cross and dart into the empty house for a second time in simply half an hour.
For those who’re the flawed facet of 30, chances are high you’ll look again wistfully in your 21-year-old self’s means to shake off the after-effects of a heavy night time as if it have been a light chilly.
Chances are high you wouldn’t have been in a position to time your run, casually management a ball arriving over your shoulder, earlier than exhibiting sufficient composure to fit it previous an onrushing goalkeeper. That’s simply exhibiting off.
After simply 34 minutes, the Belgian was gifted a golden probability to attain his third when Payet was clipped within the space.
As together with his first two gilt-edged probabilities, it by no means felt like a risk that he might miss. Not on that night time.
After he accomplished his first-half hat-trick, De Melo lifted Hazard onto his shoulders to have a good time, exhibiting his gratitude to the perfect participant he’d ever play alongside, and “an excellent boy – however a bit debauched,” as he later informed Objective.
Eden Hazard’s final recreation for Lille noticed him rating a hat-trick whereas nonetheless drunk 🤯
The reigning 2x participant of the yr in Ligue 1 was nonetheless feeling the results of the night time earlier than, however confirmed Chelsea followers what to anticipate for years to come back after scoring 3 objectives in 24 minutes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VSy5BWopIE
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) July 31, 2023
Hazard had assured an ideal send-off, and he’d carried out it with an hour to spare. The sport drifted from there, with all that wanted to be carried out out of the best way promptly.
However there was nonetheless an opportunity for the followers to correctly present their appreciation to their half-drunk hero, as Lille boss Rudi Garcia launched Mavuba in his place in harm time.
After embracing every of his team-mates, Hazard trudged off the turf at Lille one final time, reciprocating his standing ovation by applauding the supporters in response.
“The man had not even slept, he drank for the whole night time and he put away a hat-trick in [just over] half-hour,” his substitute recalled.
“All of us checked out one another, we informed ourselves that this man was the true deal.”
No arguments right here.
By Nestor Watach
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