Manager Guus Hiddink has dismissed speculation that Eden Hazard  will leave Premier League champions Chelsea, insisting that the winger was content to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium international’s 14 goals helped Chelsea become English champions for the fifth time last season, besides earning him England’s Footballer of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.
The goals have, however, dried up this season for Hazard, who scored his first league goals in Saturday’s win over Bournemouth. The 25-year-old said in February that it would be “difficult to say no to (French side) Paris St Germain”.
Hiddink told British media said Hazard was a “talented, high-quality player” who was suffering a frustratingly poor season because of injuries that have limited him to four goals in all competitions this year.
Hazard has been struggling with a hip ailment which forced him to sit out over a month of the campaign prior to Saturday’s game against Bournemouth.
“When he is there fully fit physically and mentally, then he is one of the best. I noticed that I saw him moving more, very light, very fresh (on Saturday),” Hiddink said. “He was playing free with no doubt in his mind and any frustrations, so this was a good sign for me.”
Hiddink said Hazard had several more years to go on his contract and “what I know (is), he is very happy with everything in Chelsea and around Chelsea. He is very important and if he is fit as he is today, (it is) showing.”
Ninth-placed Chelsea will host title-chasing London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on May 2.    
 
FA Cup final likely to define Van Gaal’s United tenure: Pardew
Louis van Gaal’s future at Manchester United will likely depend on the outcome of the FA Cup final next month just like it did for English football’s most successful manager Alex Ferguson in 1990, Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has said.
Palace meet United at Wembley next month in a repeat of the 1990 final. Winning that trophy reportedly helped keep Ferguson at United then. The Scot went on to win 13 Premier League titles and four more FA Cups during a trophy-laden career.
Van Gaal’s position has come under increasing scrutiny during an erratic United campaign and the FA Cup represents the last chance for his side to win any silverware this term.
“I remember Sir Alex’s career hinged on that game and maybe Van Gaal’s career will hinge on this,” said Pardew, who played for Palace in the 1990 final, which United won after a replay.
“I like the guy (Van Gaal). He’s had some terrible, terrible press and I look forward to seeing him in the final.”
Pardew’s men booked their place in the final after beating Watford 2-1 on Sunday, with Connor Wickham’s goal proving the winner after Hornet striker Troy Deeney cancelled out Yannick Bolasie’s opener for the Eagles. “This is a different team, with a different spirit, but the characteristics are similar to 1990. They are hard-working, diligent, with good defenders and some pace on the attack,” Pardew said. “I just hope the destiny isn’t the same result in the final.”