By DAVID FACEY
EDEN HAZARD has warned top-flight defenders there is plenty more to come — after his eye-popping Premier League debut.
Chelsea’s £35million new-boy also vowed he will not let the hatchet men stop him showcasing the skills that set up the Blues’ season-opening 2-0 win at the DW Stadium.
Hazard, 21, had to endure plenty of rough stuff at Wigan, with home skipper Gary Caldwell booked for one particularly cynical challenge on the Belgian star.
The match stats showed he was fouled more than any other player in the game — even though he was subbed after 64 minutes.
Midfielder Hazard said: “It doesn’t worry me, I already had a taste of these kind of tackles in the Community Shield.
“I was kicked quite a bit in the first half against Wigan, but in France it was already like that for me. I wasn’t aware I was the most fouled player in the match — I wasn’t counting them!
“From the start of the game you could see the way I play and the most important thing is I’m not injured.
“But there are a lot of things I can do better. I lost a lot of balls in the second half but I contributed what was asked of me.”
Hazard revelled in the free role he was given by boss Roberto Di Matteo, slotting in just behind lone striker Fernando Torres.
He added: “I was asked to be decisive and I was, by winning the penalty and an assist for the first goal.
“I started as the No 10, and then afterwards with Juan Mata, we tried to interchange positions rather than stay in the same place. I think we worked rather well.
“Oscar has just arrived and we haven’t had the time to work together. We have had only one training session but little by little we’ll get things to where they should be.
“There are loads of possibilities. Ryan Bertrand was on the left against Wigan and Daniel Sturridge can play there as well and the coach won’t hesitate to change things. He will just put the best players on the pitch.
“Our preparation was very good. Physically speaking, I feel impeccable.”
Defender Branislav Ivanovic profited from Hazard’s trickery to crash home the first goal inside two minutes.
And he said the newcomer’s arrival, along with that of £25m Brazilian ace Oscar — an impressive second-half substitute — has got Stamford Bridge buzzing.
Ivanovic said: “The new players excite everyone. There is always ambition here and we have to fight for every trophy. For this you have to have a big and good enough squad — and that is what we have.
“The new players are great. During pre-season they have shown they have fantastic quality and we have changed a lot as a team because all of them are so creative.
“Hazard and Oscar have given us the pace we needed. They are quality. Eden had a great performance against Wigan and he does not think individually either, it is also how he works defensively.
“Oscar is great and we get something special from him in the creativity department.
“Everyone is happy with the players we have. We just have to keep working hard and play every game strong.”
