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Chelsea star Eden Hazard: I must win Champions League to be a top player

Eden Hazard has told the London Evening Standard the Champions League is "the one thing missing" from his career before he can be considered a top player, but says there is no need to leave Chelsea after a fine 2014-15 season.

Hazard, 24, lifted the Premier League title for the first time as Jose Mourinho's side led the table for virtually the whole campaign, while the Blues completed a domestic double by beating Tottenham to win the Capital One Cup trophy.

The Belgium international was influential throughout the season, scoring 14 goals and created nine more while being rewarded with the PFA Player of the Year award as well as being named Premier League Player of the Season.

Mouinho's men exited the Champions League quarterfinals to Paris Saint-Germain on away goals in March, and Hazard -- who won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013 -- says he is determined to stay at Stamford Bridge and go one step further.

"The Champions League is the one thing missing from my career," said Hazard. "When I look at the history of the competition and the people that have taken part, the top, top players have all won it. For many it is why they have been regarded as top players.

"So if I want to be considered in that upper, upper level of top players I need to win the Champions League at some point. Obviously it is not easy, it is a tough tournament to go all the way to win.

"But it is something as a club I think we can do and we have to always dream of. I have imagined that feeling of what it would be like to lift the trophy. Let's hope we get a chance to do it."

Despite speculation linking him with the likes of Real Madrid, PSG and Barcelona following another impressive season in England, Hazard says he would be "silly" to leave West London in his current form.

He continued: "Why change? If you're happy and things are going really well at one place, there is no need to change.

"Obviously, these things don't just depend on me but whenever you're enjoying your football and having the chance to win trophies, it would be silly to change."

Hazard suffered the most fouls of any player in the Premier League last season -- with Mourinho calling for greater protection for the attacker after rough treatment from PSG -- but the 24-year-old says he thrives on the competitive nature of English football.

"Maybe I need more of that [protection] but it is the special thing about English football, it's what makes it different," he added. "Over here people like a scrap, like a battle. I will just keep playing the way I do.

"I will try and entertain the fans, create assists, score goals and concentrate on that regardless. I can still take the hits, it's not a problem for me. I accept the blows. I can take the punches like a boxer."