Everton 2-0 Chelsea: Eden Hazard missed Blues loss in FA Cup due to hip injury

Chelsea have confirmed that a hip injury was the reason for Eden Hazard's absence for their FA Cup quarter-final loss at the hands of Everton on Saturday (12 March). The midfielder was deemed available by Guus Hiddink ahead of the game, which saw Diego Costa embroiled in more controversy after he was sent off for an altercation with Gareth Barry.

"Eden Hazard is missing today because of a small issue with a tendon in his hip area," the Stamford Bridge outfit confirmed on the club's official twitter account following their 2-0 loss to Everton.

The Belgian midfielder, who was Chelsea's player of the season following their title-winning 2014/15 campaign, has had a forgettable season during the ongoing campaign. Hazard has struggled throughout the entire season with form and fitness issues and has come under severe criticism from various quarters. He has not scored a single goal in the Premier League this season compared to 14 goals last season, and has contributed to Chelsea's horrendous campaign, which will see them finish without a trophy and without Champions League football next season.

The Belgium international's father has blamed the reigning Premier League champions for his son's lack of form during the course of the season, suggesting that the club forced him to play through injury. But Hiddink refuted the claims by suggesting that Hazard is fully fit and available for selection.

"Eden's lack of form is due to an injury, an inflammation in the hip that he's been carrying now for three or four months" Hazard's father told Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

"Instead of giving Eden the time to overcome the injury and have a proper rest, they push him to play because they have some important games... he has no choice," Hazard Sr added.

Chelsea have confirmed that a hip injury was the reason for Eden Hazard's absence for their FA Cup quarter-final loss at the hands of Everton on Saturday (12 March). The midfielder was deemed available by Guus Hiddink ahead of the game, which saw Diego Costa embroiled in more controversy after he was sent off for an altercation with Gareth Barry.

"Eden Hazard is missing today because of a small issue with a tendon in his hip area," the Stamford Bridge outfit confirmed on the club's official twitter account following their 2-0 loss to Everton.