Hazard says Europe gunning for Chelsea

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Hazard, who has taken English football by storm since his £32 million ($49.07 million) move from Lille, believes the Blues have become an even bigger scalp since their astonishing UEFA Champions League triumph last season.

It was that European Cup success which convinced the 21-year-old to snub other major offers in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge but he is fully aware how difficult the trophy will be to defend.

Indeed, no club has ever retained the Champions League crown but Hazard is convinced it can be done.

"It will be complicated as now we are the team to beat, as Chelsea won the Champions League last year," he told www.uefa.com ahead of Friday evening's (Saturday morning AEST) Super Cup clash with Atletico Madrid.

"We also know it will be difficult to win it twice in a row.

"The most important thing is to take it one game at a time and see what we can achieve.

"For a club like Chelsea, the goal is to win the Champions League every year, even though we know it will be difficult."

Europa League winner Atletico narrowly failed to qualify for the Champions League but will look to show others the way in Monaco.

But Hazard had other ideas as he eyed the first trophy of his Chelsea career.

"They are a great team with great players," he said.

"I hope it will be a good game and that we win, to claim my first trophy for Chelsea.

"But we expect nothing less than a tough match against a great team. It will not be easy."

Hazard has played just three games for Chelsea but such has been his impact, he is already regarded by some as its key player this season.

But the playmaker, who will travel to Monaco with his new side on Thursday, said: "I am not here to be a star, to show off. I am here to play for my team-mates."

The ease with which Hazard has produced goals and assists has been all the more impressive considering the differences between his current and former clubs.

"It's totally different," he said. "Even in the United States, we are famous.

"With Lille, we could have gone to the south of France and people wouldn't have recognised us. Chelsea are a very big club.

"The players are at another level, the academy is at another level as well. Everything has changed - the language has changed, the country has changed - it's up to me now to adapt."

Chelsea will be without suspended captain John Terry but the defender has returned to training after the neck injury that ruled him out of last weekend's win over Newcastle United.

That will likely make him available for selection when England boss Roy Hodgson names his squad for next month's opening 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Hodgson confirmed last week he would pick Terry - if fit - despite the defender's international future remaining in limbo.

The Football Association has yet to announce a date for Terry's independent disciplinary hearing over charges he used a racist slur against Anton Ferdinand, an allegation he denies and was cleared of by a court last month.

Chelsea has no fresh injury concerns, with Marko Marin again expected to miss out with his hamstring problem.

It remains to be seen whether he and Terry will travel to Monaco or those players being linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge prior to Friday's transfer deadline, especially Michael Essien.