The Dutch coach believes the 25-year-old can regain his best form, after a disappointing season, and says he expects him to remain in west London for some years to come
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has provided the strongest hint yet that Eden Hazard will stay at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Belgium international had been out of action for almost two months before returning to score his first Premier League goals of the season in a 4-1 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Hazard was one of the players to fall out with Jose Mourinho before he was dismissed from his Chelsea job in December and Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were reported to be watching the situation closely as the Belgian faced speculation over his future.
Hiddink believes the club and the player are both now happy and expects the 25-year-old to remain at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future.
“I think he has some years more to go. What I know is… he is very happy with everyone around Chelsea, [who are] in and around Chelsea,” he said.
“He is very important and if he is fit, as he was showing, not fully fully fit but through games you get more game fitness but he will be very important again next season.”
Hazard had not scored from open play all season until his double against the newly promoted side but his manager believes he can regain the form that saw him crowned PFA Player of the Year last year.
“I think so, I think so [on regaining the PFA Player of the Year Award next season] and normally after one year having won this prize and then having a bad season you are a little bit depressed, hurt as a player, I think he has the capacity to get it back in the upcoming years,” he added.
“I wanted him whenever he could to participate in training but what is important when I just talk to him but the response and the initiative of these player.”
Cesc Fabregas has also been resurgent under Hiddink and bagged three assists against Bournemouth taking him to second in the all time Premier League assists rankings.
Hiddink believes that the return of Hazard and Nemanja Matic allowed Fabregas space to pick out his killer balls to devastating effect.
He explained: “He also had difficult times until December when he climbed up, he climbed up. I think today he was perfect performance but also important when surrounded by players who can help him out also in defensive works so he can use his quality.”