When Chelsea won the Premier League last season, one man was at the thick of the action – scoring for fun, assisting at will and making meals out of opposing defenders – that man was Eden Hazard.
Hazard had an unbelievable impact on the Blues title chase, so much that he won the trifecta – Players’ Player of the Year, Football Writers Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year awards.
Speaking at the FWA award ceremony, Chelsea legend, Gianfranco Zola, who won same award in 1997 described Hazard as an “exceptional” player.
“He’s an exceptional player, one with huge potential. With his skills and ability he’s the type of player supporters want to watch, he’s fantastic.”
Quick Rewind. Same time when Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo picked up his second FIFA Ballon D’or award in January 2014, the Belgian was honoured by his teammates with a clone version named the ‘Ballon wood’.
The significance of this was Hazard was considered a strong contender for the Ballon D’or award in the coming season.
By this time last year, Chelsea had massacred all teams that came their way en route to winning the title – notably, a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge where Hazard was a constant menace and got a goal for all his troubles.
And the Blues only dropped points twice at this point last term, against the Manchester clubs – with both games ending in draws.
It took the former Lille winger only about 100 minutes before opening his Premier League goal account last season – and scored his fifth against QPR exactly one year ago.
In all competitions, he scored 21 times and created 99 goal-scoring chances for his teammates with his beautiful runs, sleek feet and wonderful skills.
“There are players I keep an eye on and who I like a lot, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course,” French Legend Zinedine Zidane told Fifa.com.
“They’re fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too. I enjoy everything he does on the pitch.
“I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he’s improving every year.
“He can still get better too, and I think he’s a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.”
Fast Forward, just within a twinkle of an eye, all has changed this season. Three months, 16 games and 1400 minutes, Hazard has failed to lighten the EPL – his poor form has so far brought doom and gloom to Stamford Bridge.
He has been singled out for Chelsea’s poor run of form – with critics slamming the winger for not being able to replicate his last season’s exploits.
Once considered untouchable, he started and completed all 38 League games last season – a year later he has found himself very much dispensable.
Jose Mourinho dropped the winger on a couple of occasions citing his defensive deficiencies as the main yardstick.
“I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals. Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work,” the Portuguese tactician said after Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa in October.
As if that wasn’t enough, the player’s penalty miss sent Mourinho’s team packing from the Capital One Cup against Stoke City, a competition they strolled into winning last season.
His woes continued when Liverpool visited London on Saturday and according to Squawka, that was the player’s worst game in a Chelsea shirt.
The Belgian was anonymous throughout the game and was hauled off in the second half as the Red’s ran out 3-1 victors at the Bridge.
“I’ve got no sympathy for Hazard, I expect more of him. The level he got to last season, you started to see a great player,” Manchester legend, Gary Neville told Sky Sports.
“Hazard’s got to pull himself out of it. I’ve got no sympathy for the very top players with the best talent, the best skill; they really have got everything at their feet.
“Every player goes through a tough patch but he’s got to do it quickly because that’s what the best players do, they come out of these patches very quickly.”
Is it any coincidence that Hazard’s poor streak is happening same time the club is experiencing one of its worst moments?
Despite his goal drought, the 24-year-old has created more chances per game this season (29), made more key passes (27) than any Chelsea player, contributed two assists and completed 469 passes.
But the goals have suddenly dried up for the player. A return to form by the Chelsea No10 could mark a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes.
