I should have probably added ‘currently’ in the title.

Eden Hazard had a sensational World Cup with Belgium and then once he’d rested he came back to Chelsea and has shone in the Premier League once again.

Mohamed Salah isn’t playing to the same standards he set last season, Kevin De Bruyne is currently injured, David Silva has been in and out of the Manchester City starting eleven and Paul Pogba’s best job thus far has been to piss off his Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

At Stamford Bridge, Hazard is in the form of his life. The Belgian wizard has the dribbling skills to glide beyond any defence, the vision to create key chances for teammates and he’s also scoring important goals for his team.

Last night, he scored a superb strike that knocked an until then unbeaten Liverpool out of the League Cup.  Substitute Eden took control of the ball in the middle of his opponent’s half with a few Reds players around him for company. He twists and turns a couple of times before playing a pass through a Liverpool player’s legs. He then plays a simple one-two and has the ball on the right flank. He approaches the penalty area, stepping inside and away from two challenges. As he enters the box he quickly slips the ball onto his right foot and gets his shot away. Like an arrow it fires straight into the far side of the net!

It was a sublime piece of magic from a magician at the height of his powers.

Chelsea legend and current assistant boss Gianfranco Zola enjoyed the goal:

“It’s a fantastic goal. Not only the beauty of it but for the time he scored it,” 

“Not only is Hazard one of the best in the Premier League – if not the best – but he is one of the best in Europe and the world.”

For me, the twenty-seven year old is definitely the best performer currently playing in the Premier League.

I found it interesting when listening to TV pundits Danny Murphy and Craig Bellamy talk about Hazard as being great but not ruthless enough. They questioned if he had the right attitude to be one of the best in the world. They also stated that he’d have a good season and then an iffy one.

Yet I think something has changed dramatically this term and it will benefit Hazard’s game no end.

New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri could be integral in getting the very best out of his inspirational maestro.

The Italian gaffer clearly adores Eden and believes he can be a consistent world-class performer.

Sarri gives his number ten licence to roam and get onto the ball in areas where Hazard’s eyes light up and where he can cause the most damage.

Under Mourinho, Eden was asked to do more defensive duties and that stifled him somewhat. Then under Antonio Conte, Chelsea again played pragmatic football and the Belgian international was asked at times to play as a false nine and those two things didn’t suit his game at all.

With Sarri at the helm, The Blues play nice attacking football at a high tempo. Eden Hazard has been given more freedom and also more responsibility. He’s being left to find space and stay in attacking areas but he’s now the talismanic figure that the team look to when the chips are down. Hazard is thriving with both the freedom and the responsibility.

I think teammates are playing a big part too.

You’ve still got the energy and the dependability that N’Golo Kante gives them in midfield. New signing Jorginho is extremely efficient in his passing and ensures that transitionally The Blues are much better in midfield. Left back Marcos Alonso is still constantly venturing forward on the wings and that gives Chelsea another attacking outlet.

For me, starting Olivier Giroud up front will get the best out of Hazard. The French striker is the perfect foil for Eden to play off of. Giroud’s link-up play is astonishingly good and as he comes deeper to get the ball; he creates space in behind, Hazard sees it and gets in there and then  Olivier gives the ball to him.

In his six Premier League appearances (two from the bench), Hazard has scored five times and created two assists. He’s a difference maker and a game changer. His passing success rate is up at 88.4%.

Currently at The Bridge, Hazard’s in sensational form and if he can perform like this continually then come the end of the season Chelsea will be challenging for major trophies and he’ll be up for all the top player awards.

Posted on September 27th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article