Eden Hazard: I've got a special relationship with the Special One

The Chelsea and Belgium forward gave an interview to The Independent in which he opened up about how his career has developed since Mourinho arrived at Chelsea.

"It’s true we do have a special relationship. What is good about him as a coach is that he lets us play. He lets me play," said Hazard.

"He is not always on at me and I really appreciate that. If it isn’t good he says so, if it is good he says so. He is always direct.

"But I don’t think he has changed me. He has taught me to become more professional and to be better on the pitch.

"I don’t think I have changed my mentality. You can’t change that. I am who I am. He has always taught me to get the best out of myself.”

Hazard also spoke about being the most-fouled player in the league - and how he has had to cope with that despite his diminutive stature.

"I have always thought if there is a game and there have been a lot of fouls on me then I have been playing well for the team, so that means we’re having a good match,” he said.

"You can win a free-kick when there’s a foul and that’s a chance to score a goal. I have always been small so defenders have always been taller and tougher than me.

"So that’s difficult for me, they foul me sometimes but there you are – that’s what the rules of the game are for...

"Of course, there are defenders who are typically English. It’s up to me to adapt to them. That’s how I always play against a defender. I try to adapt to his character so the more that they foul me the more I want to succeed on the pitch. So, in fact, maybe it’s a good thing to get fouled!”

As for reacting violently to tacklers, as team-mate Nemanja Matic did last week?

"I don’t see the point in reacting. True, it’s a human response but it is the way I have been brought up," Hazard said

"I have been used to taking the knocks. The more I take, the happier I am. It always makes me want to outdo them but in a football way and I don’t want to make their life a misery by kicking them. I want to hurt the opponent but in terms of the football."