Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Eden Hazard has requested special shin pads in order to protect himself against fouls.
Mourinho has been continuously asking referees to give extra protection to the Belgian winger, who has already been fouled 74 times (highest in England) in the Premier League so far this season.
And the former Porto claims that Hazard, who recently signed a new five-year deal with the Blues, has requested for 'carbon shin pads.'
"Eden told me to speak with my friends who make the carbon shin pads," Mourinho said, according to ESPN.
"I am not joking. He told me to speak with them because I am friends with the guy, to try to make it also for the back [of his calves]. Like a horse, when the horses do the jumping - in front and behind. Because now he gets (kicked) behind."
"I know (Hazard is the most fouled player), but he is not the player that as a consequence of that creates more cards for the opponent."
The Portuguese boss, who insists that Hazard is not the kind of player that dives, feels that the Belgian's opponents are not being punished enough.
"Normally, you get 100 fouls and the opponents will get a certain percentage of yellow cards, so if he is the most fouled player, he should be the player that creates more cards for the opponent, but he isn't."
"I know who is, but I don't say names because maybe the ones are the ones that want that and Eden doesn't want that. He wants to play. He doesn't want people to get cards and people to get a red card."
"I'm proud of him for being honest on the pitch and I leave it with the authorities to do something about the rest."
The former Real Madrid boss feels that the referees need to keep an eye out for tactical fouls that are intentionally made to simply stop attacks.
"Referees have to understand that sometimes little fouls are big fouls in the context of the game," he added. "A player that is a specialist in stopping counter-attacks. The team loses the ball, he makes the foul. It is a small foul, but it stops the counter-attack. And I think Eden is punished in both ways."
