ON-LOAN Chelsea midfielder Saul Niguez has revealed why former Blues main man Eden Hazard is struggling in LaLiga.
The Spaniard says Spanish football is a ‘totally different game’ to the one played in England.
Saul says in the Premier League, Hazard used to get ‘one-vs-ones and two-vs-ones’ allowing him to take people on.
But in Spain when playing for Real Madrid, teams deliberately make it ‘much more difficult’ for him.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Saul said on Hazard’s struggles in Spain: “They are totally different. Over there, it’s much more tactical, whereas here it’s more physical and a bit crazier.
“There’s more back and forth, it’s less about having control of the game and more about entertaining the fans. You can do things here that you really can’t do in La Liga.
“For example, I was talking to my friends the other day about Eden Hazard. When he was here, he was easily one of the best players in the world and then he goes to La Liga and has his own difficulties because it’s a totally different game.
“Here he had more one-vs-ones and two-vs-ones but in La Liga, because everyone knows how good his team is and how good he is, other teams make it much more difficult for him.
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“Here it’s happening a bit in reverse, although I think it’s a bit easier to adapt from La Liga to the Premier League than from the Premier League to La Liga.
Saul has had a tough time adapting to English football and was even hooked 45 minutes into his Chelsea debut against Aston Villa earlier on in the season.
On his disastrous debut, he said: “In my first match, I was a bit disorientated because I was used to doing things differently and it was a bit strange for me.
“I hadn’t had much time to train with my team-mates and when I first started many of them were away with their national teams so it was a difficult start.
“In Spain the football is much more tactical, whereas here it’s more physical and a bit crazier. There’s more back and forth, it’s less about having control of the game and more about entertaining the fans. You can do things here that you really can’t do in La Liga.
“What is really most difficult is that here I rarely see the sun or clear skies, whereas in Madrid it can be very cold but the sky is blue and there’s a lot of sunshine, which also brings a bit of warmth.”
However, he is now much more settled on and off the pitch and is convinced moving to England was the right move.
He said: “The beginning wasn’t easy for me. I have changed my whole life, moving from Madrid, leaving Madrid with my family, changing language and culture, even the small things like driving on the other side of the road.
“I would like to have played more but I also understand that this team won the Champions League last season so it is difficult to get into the team. I feel good and every day I’m feeling better and prepared for when the head coach needs me.
“Everything has changed – the stadium, team-mates, my whole life. The truth is it hasn’t been easy but I’m very grateful to my team-mates and the club for making it easier for me to adapt. My English is improving and everything is becoming a bit easier.
“Sometimes I take the Underground to go to Selfridges or Westfield or Oxford Street and it’s a bit easier for me than in Spain because people are more respectful here and don’t bother you.
“In Spain, people are a bit more fanatical and they get a bit closer to you so it’s harder to go out in the same way. I haven’t played as much here so the people don’t know me as well, which means I can take the Underground without any problems and I like that.
“I have a stop next to my house so I can really enjoy the city without getting in a car and getting stuck in traffic.”
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