Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has rejected the notion that Chelsea are pushing Eden Hazard too hard and said the out of form playmaker is giving his all to get back to his dazzling best.
Since Hiddink's arrival, Hazard has been further hampered by groin and hip problems.
Asked if he thinks Chelsea are pushing Hazard too hard, Hiddink replied: "I don't think so because we talk with the players as well and measure them. We have a system that tells us when players are coming into fatigue and the risk of injury is higher.
"We experienced that with Pedro -- he was working very hard but a little bit of fatigue. Eden also had this problem a few weeks ago when coming back from his injury, going into what we call the red zone.
"But now that risk is not very big anymore. He can work hard without having a risk of going into a big injury."Asked what it would take to get Hazard back to his best, Hiddink replied: "Most of the time it's getting them more into the feeling of spontaneous action. Don't think too much, go in and do what you're good at.
"We try not to overthink and overact. But of course getting top fit will help. I will always support him when his effort is 100 percent and so far his effort to get where he wants to be is 100 percent."
Criticism of Hazard has centred just as much on his demeanour as on his lack of productivity, and the Belgian was heavily condemned in some quarters for choosing to swap shirts with PSG star Angel Di Maria at half-time of Wednesday's match.
But Hiddink insists that Hazard's body language is no indicator of his level of commitment.
"Everybody has his own charisma," the Chelsea interim boss added. "If you see Diego Costa he is very outspoken -- when he's angry you see that he is angry.
"Eden is a little bit of a different character, a little bit more introverted. He doesn't show what he really [feels]. He's a different person with different expressions, but it doesn't mean that he's not involved.
"Sometimes we like to see a little bit more expression, and when it's more obvious we accept it a bit more easily.
"He is committed so that's why I defend him. He is also concerned about delivering more. It's not attitude. I hate when players get a bit indifferent. I protect players when they are trying to force themselves to the limit and that's where we are trying to get him."
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