Romeo Lavia Says Eden Hazard Meeting Boosted Motivation

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has revealed that meeting Belgian Football legend Eden Hazard after the Blues’ 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United gave him extra motivation to continue improving at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old said the former Chelsea star was happy to see his progress, making the encounter particularly meaningful as he looks to establish himself after a difficult period with injuries.

Hazard returned to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s win over Manchester United and met several Chelsea players after the final whistle. For Lavia, seeing his compatriot was more than a chance to greet one of the club’s most celebrated former players. He described Hazard as an important figure in his career and said their conversations have helped motivate him.

Romeo Lavia Says Eden Hazard Meeting Gave Him Extra Motivation

Hazard remains a significant figure in Chelsea’s history after enjoying a successful seven-year spell at the club. The Belgian won six major honours, including two Premier League titles, and scored 110 goals in 352 appearances before leaving for Real Madrid in 2019.

Lavia said he was pleased to see Hazard back at Stamford Bridge and felt encouraged by the former forward’s reaction to his recent performances.

“He’s a very important figure for me,” Lavia said on Chelsea’s official website.

“We speak quite a lot. It was good to see him out here and I could see in his eyes he was happy for me and proud. It gives me that extra motivation.”

The meeting came at an encouraging moment for Lavia, who has begun to build consistency after several injury setbacks since joining Chelsea. The midfielder is now hoping to maintain his fitness and make a regular contribution as the club continues its Premier League campaign under manager Xabi Alonso.

Lavia Builds Momentum After Difficult Injury Period

Lavia arrived at Chelsea from Southampton in 2023 for an initial fee of £53 million ($71.4 million). However, persistent injury problems have restricted his opportunities since the transfer, preventing him from enjoying a sustained run of appearances.

This season has offered a more positive picture. The 22-year-old has been included in Chelsea’s matchday squad for every Premier League fixture so far and has also earned a recall to the Belgium national team.

His recent performances have provided further encouragement. Lavia completed 90 minutes in consecutive appearances against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and Manchester United in the Premier League. Those back-to-back full matches represent an important step as he works towards maintaining his fitness and becoming a more consistent presence in midfield.

After the victory over United, Lavia expressed satisfaction with his condition and performance, while making it clear that his priority remains helping Chelsea achieve positive results.

“As long as I feel good, I will do everything possible to help the team get results,” Lavia said.

“I’m feeling good, so I am very happy with my performance.”

Chelsea Midfielder Focused on Continuous Improvement

Despite his recent progress, Lavia believes there is still plenty of room for development. At 22, the midfielder recognises that establishing himself at a major club requires consistent work, patience and improvement across different areas of his game.

He explained that his development is being supported by the people working with him at Chelsea, with regular training sessions focused on identifying and improving specific aspects of his performance.

“I’m still young and there are a lot of areas I can improve. We try to tick them off during the week. It’s a process.”

Lavia also praised the work being carried out behind the scenes at the club and said the current approach was producing encouraging results. Rather than looking too far ahead, he wants to maintain his progress and continue building on his recent performances.

“All I can say is the work we are doing with all the people at the club is going well so far. It’s just about keeping it going and hopefully we can continue this way.”

His comments underline the importance of staying fit and developing consistency after a challenging start to life at Stamford Bridge. With consecutive full appearances behind him, Lavia will be looking to turn his recent momentum into a sustained contribution for the Blues.

Chelsea Fourth in Premier League Under Xabi Alonso

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League table with 16 points from nine matches following Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager during the summer. The 2-0 victory over Manchester United added another positive result to their campaign and provided an opportunity for Lavia to demonstrate his growing importance to the team.

The Blues now face a trip to Sunderland on Sunday, taking on the side currently at the bottom of the Premier League table. Chelsea will then host Leeds United after the international break.

For Lavia, the immediate focus will be on maintaining his fitness and continuing to earn opportunities in Alonso’s midfield. His recent run of full matches, Belgium recall and encouraging conversation with Hazard have all provided reasons for optimism.

Hazard’s words and reaction have given the young midfielder another source of encouragement, but Lavia knows that progress at Chelsea will depend on what he delivers on the pitch. After a period disrupted by injuries, he is now focused on keeping his momentum going and making the most of the opportunities ahead.