Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia said a recent visit from club great Eden Hazard provided an extra layer of motivation as he looks to build on an encouraging start to the season, according to ESPN. Hazard attended Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United and greeted players on the pitch after the final whistle.

The 35-year-old Hazard scored 110 goals in 352 appearances during his seven seasons in west London before moving to Real Madrid in 2019, collecting six major honours along the way, including two Premier League titles. For Lavia, a fellow Belgium international, maintaining contact with the former winger has offered a steady source of guidance.

“He’s a very important figure for me,” Lavia told the club’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.”

Lavia Overcomes Injuries to Secure Consistent Playing Time

The encouragement arrives as Lavia puts behind a frustrating period of physical setbacks. Following his arrival from Southampton in 2023 for an initial £53 million fee—equivalent to $71.4 million—persistent injuries severely restricted his playing time.

This season has brought changes in availability. The 22-year-old midfielder has been named in the matchday squad for every Premier League fixture so far. He recently completed 90 minutes in consecutive appearances: against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and against Manchester United in league play.

“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. 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.”

Climbing The Premier League Table Under Xabi Alonso

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League table with 16 points from nine matches following the summer appointment of manager Xabi Alonso. Lavia was also recently recalled to the Belgium national team.

The Blues travel to face bottom-placed Sunderland on Sunday before returning to Stamford Bridge to host Leeds following the upcoming international break.