Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard prepares to face Manchester United with the world at his feet By Henry Winter #viaTheTelegraph Eden Hazard strides into Old Trafford on Sunday as Chelsea’s Player of the Year, as PFA Young Player of the Year and hailed as a great entertainer who will eventually rival Lionel Messi, according to his many disciples. As he prepares to take on Manchester United, the new, improved Hazard is testament to his heightened powers of dedication and the wisdom of listening to a great manager in Jose Mourinho. Eden Hazard has arrived. In a season illuminated by the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea, by West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho, Graziano Pellè at Southampton and West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino, Hazard has been one of the most eye-catching stars. The Belgian’s bravura display in last the 6-0 thumping of Maribor last Tuesday raised questions again in certain sceptical minds over whether he delivers only against lesser sides, an old canard in urgent need of neck-wringing. For this is a 23-year-old crowd-pleaser who has already reached a half-century of caps for Belgium and contested a World Cup quarter-final, losing to Ángel di María’s Argentina. Last season, Hazard breached the defences of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool, among others, during his accumulation of 17 goals. Hazard’s performances against Manchester City last season, especially during the two league wins if not the FA Cup defeat, demonstrated his ability to inflict pain on heavyweight opposition. He can wreak damage anywhere across the final third. On the left at the Etihad Stadium, Hazard darted away from Pablo Zabaleta, was too quick for Martín Demichelis and David Silva, who even held his hands up as if scalded when Hazard tore past. He then ran at Matija Nastasic, slipping the ball right to Branislav Ivanovic, who continued the move. Time and again, Hazard troubled City, standing over the ball, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, then suddenly speeding between the off-balance Zabaleta and Jesús Navas, or riding the buffeting challenges of Zabaleta, James Milner and Vincent Kompany in one break. Hazard has constantly alarmed Zabaleta, arguably the best right‑back in the Premier League with Ivanovic and Seamus Coleman. In commanding the man-of-the-match honours at the Etihad Stadium in February, Hazard was too swift for Zabaleta, reaching the bye-line and cutting the ball back for Samuel Eto’o to hit the bar as the visiting fans chanted “boring, boring Chelsea”. The heat-map of the No 17 who became a No 10s trail of terror also glows on the right. Again at the Etihad, Hazard stared at Aleksandar Kolarov, rolling his right foot over the ball, confusing the Serb who was joined by Demichelis. The pair stood there almost transfixed. Hazard’s sudden acceleration, touch and balance mean that opponents fear his every move. His increased understanding that it is a team game means he applies his many talents more wisely, in this case heeling the ball to a better-placed team-mate. In another moment, and now more central, Hazard ran at Demichelis, putting in a step-over to guide the ball past the Argentine. Pure skill. Then he beat Silva. Pure pace. Nastasic decided the only way to stop the flying Belgian was to body-check him. Whisper it around the Bridge but the dribbling, game-changing Hazard could eventually prove even better than Gianfranco Zola. “He’s a footballer that excites those in the crowd because we know when he’s on the ball he’s likely to produce a moment of sheer brilliance,’’ David Johnstone, editor of cfcuk fanzine, says. “There’ve been comparisons between him and Lionel Messi but Eden would probably be the first to admit that he’s not quite there – yet. For us, his flashes of pure genius go a long way to showing he’s not too far away from being the best player in the world. Joe Cole played alongside Hazard at Lille and when Eden joined Chelsea, Joe told me he was a superb buy, a fantastic player and that he would be brilliant for the club.” Hazard’s creativity is now always with a purpose, always with an eye for goal. He loves a killer 1-2, a trait seen against Newcastle United at the Bridge in February, combining with Ivanovic to score, and then with Eto’o. “Brilliant. Eden Hazard is becoming the Special One around here,’’ the commentator enthused. For all the current focus, Hazard is hardly an overnight sensation. Arsène Wenger pursued this “amazing player” at Lille. So did United. In his final two seasons in France before joining Chelsea for £32 million in 2012, Hazard scored 27 Ligue 1 goals with 25 assists. It shows much for his mental and physical robustness that he withstood 277 fouls in those two seasons and rarely missed a game. “At 20 and 21 he was voted for two years consecutively the best player in France by his peers,’’ Wenger says. “That didn’t happen to many people.” The only others were Pauleta at Bordeaux (2001-02 and 2002-03) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2012-13 and 2013-14) at PSG. At Chelsea, Hazard started under Roberto Di Matteo and then Rafael Benítez but fans talk reverentially of “the Mourinho effect” as the catalyst in turning the Belgian into the multi-faceted force he is today. “It’s under Mourinho that he’s really flourished,’’ Johnstone says. “As ever, Mourinho manages to prise out the best in the player as well as developing his all-round game.” He has made Hazard more aware of his defensive responsibilities, more consistent, even more dedicated. He dropped him against Schalke last season for being late for training. Mourinho demands excellence without end from his players and Hazard has responded. It was noticeable how diligently he covered back against Maribor when Filipe Luis and Ivanovic pushed up. He presses, wins the ball. It was Hazard’s acquiring of all these traits, and the growth of Willian and Oscar, that prompted Mourinho to sell Juan Mata, who will be in opposition today. The headlines are all about Hazard now. “He might well have the world fawning at his talent but Hazard’s feet are firmly on the ground,’’ Johnstone says, “a fact which is, no doubt, due to his current manager’s influence. What Mourinho will not allow is for Hazard to become arrogant in the way he conducts himself when not playing.” Johnstone adds with a flourish: “The man dubbed ‘the Special One’ will be more than happy if Hazard takes that mantle from him for what he does on the pitch.” Huge self-belief defines Hazard but little discernible ego. He looked almost star-struck when taking a selfie with Rivaldo at the World Cup, observing that the great Brazilian would be No 10 in his fantasy team. Maybe Hazard found the game too easy in France, and now appreciates he has to strive even harder if he is to climb towards the heights occupied by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He was certainly raised well. His family is clearly very important to him from his parents, Carine and Thierry who both played at a good standard in Belgium, to three younger brothers all following in his famous footsteps. Thorgan, 21 and a full international, plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan from Chelsea while Kylian, 19, is at Zulte Waregem. Ethan, 11, attends the academy of Tubize where Eden spent two seasons after eight formative years at Royal Stade Brainois. He shows his gratitude to those who have helped him on the way, posting “Allez Lille” tweets whenever his old club have a big game. He constantly backs people. During Christian Benteke’s lay-off through injury, Hazard sent his Belgian team-mate supportive messages. When André Schürrle won the World Cup, Hazard was quick to congratulate his club‑mate. He saluted Frank Lampard – the “boss” – when the Chelsea legend left the Bridge this summer. Hazard also possesses a cheeky streak. When visiting Sweden, he tweeted Ibrahimovic with “do you want me to pop by for a quick lesson in French”. He called his friend Eto’o “vieux père”, a reference to Mourinho’s comments about the striker’s age. At only 23, Hazard will blossom further. He certainly has the technique. During a special filmed session at Belgian training, Hazard was juggling the ball with Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini and Jan Vertonghen. He then turned and volleyed the ball at the camera, breaking the lens. Messi and Ronaldo may be too distant targets but Hazard’s rise is worth enjoying and celebrating.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 07:22:57 +0000
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