Jose’s new Joe Cole: How Hazard became the Premier League’s best
Eden Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year award after a brilliant season which has seen him play a crucial role in taking Chelsea to the verge of the Premier League title with five games to go.
West London Sport looks at some of the reasons for his success.
The Joe Cole factor
Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Eden Hazard bears similarities to how the Blues boss got the best out of Joe Cole in his first spell. He irked Cole, regularly criticising his contribution and work-rate, even when the England midfielder scored a winner against Liverpool. But the baiting worked. And it has with Hazard, who has played the team role Mourinho demanded, showing a first-class attitude and much-improved defensive effort.
Not falling foul
The Belgian’s strength and resilience are often underestimated. The most fouled player in the Premier League has taken some heavy punishment throughout the season, prompting Mourinho to joke the Belgian needed special customised shin pads. Some shocking challenges, notably late on in the win at Stoke, have been an all-too regular feature this season, but Hazard’s ability to cope with the extra ‘attention’, cleverly win free-kicks and never hide away, have stood out.
Game after game
Consistency with creative players is a commodity so rarely found. Hazard’s level has barely dipped below brilliant all season, with the 24-year-old a man-of-the-match winner or contender in just about every one of the 44 starts he has made prior to the Leicester game. Even when unable to make the difference, his improved defensive tracking and awareness have meant he has more than met the demands of his ever-so-demanding manager. And he is coolness personified from the penalty spot.
A modern, old-fashioned winger
Widely acknowledged as the most exciting player in the Premier League, Hazard combines the trickery and old-style dribbling ability of the very best, with a wonderful awareness and a rare selfless streak. The winning goal in the 2-1 home success against Stoke City earlier this month showcased this to perfection, Hazard running through, committing players and at the last second teeing up a simple winner for Loic Remy.
The big-game player
The winner against Manchester United, setting up Andre Schurrle’s goal at Manchester City and Remy’s strike against City at the Bridge, winning and scoring the penalty in the 2-0 success at home against Arsenal, and many more – key moments in key games, game after game. He has 18 Chelsea goals so far this season, with a further 10 assists and has started all 33 league games.
Give it to Eden
There have been times where the main attacking policy seems to be simply find Hazard. But why not? It works. Often double-marked or cynically fouled, Hazard has still made a difference and also allowed others to flourish, noticeably so earlier in the season when Cesc Fabregas was at his creative best. Much of that was because the Spaniard was finding extra space in deeper areas while opposing midfielders were helping their over-worked defenders deal with Hazard.
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