No player on Chelsea represents the resurgence under Antonio Conte better than Eden Hazard.
After a much-maligned campaign in which he scored a total of four goals in the entire Premier League season, two coming in the final fixtures, Hazard has returned to his very best. Through just 18 matches, he has scored nine goals and assisted another.
His fine form continued on Monday against Bournemouth as Hazard was deployed as a false nine, leading the line against the Cherries.
In reality, Hazard tended to drop deeper, vacating space for Pedro to make his trademark surging runs in behind. With the freedom of the pitch, Hazard was simply unplayable.
On the first goal, Hazard played an incisive pass into the feet of Fabregas who then found Pedro. Hazard continued his run through the centre of the backline, creating the yard of space Pedro needed to curl a beautiful shot into the top corner, over the outstretched hand of Artur Boruc. This was only the beginning of Hazard’s contributions on the night.
Coming into Monday, Conte’s only criticism of Chelsea was their inability to kill games off earlier. Determined not to let Bournemouth, who appeared dangerous through a resurgent Jack Wilshere, hang around, Hazard helped Chelsea storm out of the gate in the second half.
In the 48th minute, Hazard pulled out in the left channel and began charging at the retreating Bournemouth captain Simon Francis. The defender was unable to keep up with Hazard’s signature, explosive change of direction and hacked down the Belgian playmaker.
Hazard dusted himself and finished off the penalty in his typical cool manner, dispatching a shot to the bottom right corner. After only four minutes Hazard had essentially sealed the points for the Blues.
The goal was also a significant personal moment for Hazard, his 50th Premier League goal since joining Chelsea, a feat only five other blues had accomplished. The prestigious 50 goal club now includes Hazard, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Gianfranco Zola, Eidur Gudjohnson, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with Hazard reaching the mark faster than Lampard and Zola.
Throughout the second half Hazard provided a danger every time he touched the ball. Francis, in particular, was wary to put in a tackle after conceding the penalty, and with slightly more refined finishing, Hazard could have left Stamford Bridge with a hat trick.
Despite the unfamiliar role, Hazard excelled for the 90 minutes before he was given a stoppage time ovation.
This sort of performance was nothing new for Hazard who is currently whoscored.com’s top rated player in the Premier League, outpacing Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, and teammate Diego Costa.
His place on the pinnacle of the Premier League is evidence of how far Hazard has come from last year and that as the saying goes, form is temporary, class is permanent.
