Dream start but Di Matteo is sure Hazard can be better

Hazard made a dream start to life in England’s top flight during Sunday’s opening 2-0 win at Wigan, claiming two assists  inside the opening seven minutes at the DW Stadium.

Blues fans will see the 21-year-old’s home debut when Reading visit Stamford Bridge tonight.

Reflecting on Hazard’s performance on Sunday, manager Di Matteo said: “He left his mark on the game.

“In pre-season, he showed that kind of quality in training. Now, in the Premier League, hopefully there’s more to come from him.”

That could depend on how Hazard deals with the kind of rough treatment dished out to him by Wigan on Sunday, which he shrugged off afterwards.

Di Matteo was also unconcerned that his new playmaker could become a marked man. He said: “He was certainly targeted, but I don’t think there was any malicious intent by the Wigan players. It’s just difficult to mark players like that.”

It is just as well Hazard looks like settling in so quickly, with Oscar having only arrived at Chelsea last week and fellow new boy Marko Marin sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Di Matteo revealed that Marin may have to wait almost another month to make his debut.

“It won’t be long for Marin, but it might not be before the international break,” he said.

He added of Oscar: “We’re slowly looking to integrate him, as with the other new signings.

“He’s not been long with us, so we need to give him the right time to get him used to his new team members and the team, and our tactics, and slowly put him into the team.”