Chelsea vs Cardiff City (4-1): Four talking points

3) A settled defense

Chelsea's defense looked solid

After the early jitters in the game, the back four grew into the game with time. The center back pairing of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger looks settled. Both the defenders complement the system perfectly. The pair boasts of accomplished ball playing skills, are unfazed the most physical of threats and most importantly possess the pace to play a high defensive line in the system.

Marcos Alonso looks at home more than ever he's ever been in a Chelsea shirt as he opened the season in scintillating attacking form and also earned his first international call-up to Spain this international break in Uefa Nations League. His fellow countryman Cesar Azplicueta has also built upon his early season performances as he adapts to his right back role after playing on left back and center for a major part of his Chelsea career so far. The Spaniard looked much better offensively and looked reliable as always defensively.

Chelsea did have initial defensive jitters early in the season but now the defensive shape looks much better as gets accustomed to defending together as a team overall.

4) Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard scores his hat-trick

One can run out of words praising the magical Belgian. There is a new found ruthlessness about Hazard this season which was evident even in his impressive World Cup campaign. The Belgian has registered four goals and two assists so far in the Premier League. Hazard cruised to a hattrick as he scored a second-half penalty past a hapless Cardiff city.

Eden Hazard is playing with a manager known for playing attacking football for the first time in his Chelsea career and he is enjoying life under his new coach. Moreover, this new-look Chelsea side is built around him and there is every chance that we get to witness a special season from the diminutive winger. Expect the Belgian to be at least in the Balon d'Or reckoning at the end of the season.

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