"?Borussia Mochengladbach attacking midfielder Thorgan Hazard has questioned Chelsea's youth policy a year after leaving the club permanently.
Chelsea have a number of talented youngsters on their books, with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Nathan Ake and Bertrand Traore all being sent out on loan in the summer.
The Stamford Bridge club sent a total of 39 players away for seasons on loan at various clubs, and Hazard's stay at the club was made up of two loan moves to Zulte Waregem and Borussia Mochengladbach.
Speaking to "?Nieuwsblad, Hazard revealed he never expected to make the grade during his stay with the Premier League club due to to their settled first-team squad.
"I knew I would not stay at Chelsea. It was a great opportunity, but I knew I needed regular playing time," Thorgan, the younger brother of Eden, revealed.
"Chelsea like to buy youngsters and then slowly get them ready. De Bruyne, Musonda, Lukaku all went on loan. Maybe Chelsea now regret their decision not to give De Bruyne and Lukaku more chances, I don't know.
"Of course it helped that Chelsea also signed Eden, but it is not like they just sign every player's brother. They signed me because I showed potential. They had to pay Lens a fee to get me. And they were right."
Hazard's first season with Mochengladbach was relatively successful, scoring four Bundesliga goals in 29 appearances, but the 23-year-old has already grabbed three goals in seven league appearances for the German club so far this season, also contributing a goal and an assist in his side's Champions League campaign.
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