Eden Hazard: The best player in the Premier League?

Eden Hazard the best in the EPL?

There was a lot of hype surrounding the transfer of Eden Hazard, and it was almost football’s equivalent to ‘The Decision’. Although, there was no live telecast, and it didn’t concern the future of one of the best players in the world, but there were still many similarities between LeBron James’ announcement of his move to the Miami Heat and Hazard’s move to Chelsea.

The Belgium international was linked with almost every top European club after five successful years in France with Lille. He had built up the suspense of his next club for weeks, even months. In the summer of 2012, he was one of the most sought-after young players in the world, and three clubs – Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United – were leading the chase for him.

Unlike James, Hazard didn’t reveal his next destination in front of the TV cameras, but used the social networking site Twitter. He teased tweeting that he had ‘made up my mind’ before confirming in less than 140 characters that he was ‘signing for the Champions League winner,’ Chelsea. He surely knows how to work a crowd.

After all the hype, Hazard failed to live up to the expectations in his first season in England. That doesn’t mean he was poor. It was just that after the buildup, he was touted as the Premier League’s next Cristiano Ronaldo. Just like Ronaldo did at United, he burdened himself with the lofty ambition of becoming the best player in the world. But it’s only now that he has started justifying the hype surrounding the £32 million transfer to Stamford Bridge. He might be the best player in the Premier League, right now.

I know there would be many Liverpool fans (well almost all), who would want to argue with me on this point by bringing in Luis Suarez’ name and I would have agreed with them a month or two ago, but now it’s debatable. The Uruguayan has had the best season of his career and leads the league’s goal scoring charts with an astounding 23 goals – even after missing the opening five matches due to suspension – and has almost singlehandedly kept Liverpool in Champions League contention

. On the other hand, Hazard has just 12 goals this year, and is in fourth on the list with City’s Yaya Toure. As any fan can tell, true greatness of a player is not solely measured in the number of goals he scores but by the performances and the role he plays in his team’s victory, and as Hazard has improved over the last couple of months, so has Chelsea.

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea for the first time in 2004, he had a positive impact on a number of players at the club. The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba all became club legends under the guidance of the Portuguese tactician, but upon his return at the start of the season, his old guard were past their peak. He needed a new guard and he found a willing proponent in Hazard.

The Belgian has developed very well this season and has adopted to the high-intensity counterattacking methods along with the defensive responsibilities Mourinho demands from every one of his players. In the past, Hazard could be accused of being a bit lazy, but not any more. He has become an integral part of Chelsea around whom the team has been built, and that has attracted some interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

Hazard’s rise began with his sublime performance in the 4-3 win over Sunderland in early December. He was named the man of the match, scoring twice and creating one as the Blues ended on the right side of a seven goal thriller at the Stadium of Light. Stoke City stunned Chelsea in the very next game at the Britannia Stadium, but Hazard was impressive and he continued that form in the wins over Steaua Bucharest and Crystal Palace, and in the goalless draw at Arsenal.

He put in another superb performance on Boxing Day against Swansea City. His first half goal was the difference between the two sides at the Bridge, but that goal doesn’t do justice to his performance. His passes were accurate, crosses on target and gave the Swansea back four a torrid time. He was at the heart of everything good Chelsea created that day and a star in blue was born.

That performance was followed by one of the most crucial victories for the Blues so far this season, a 2-1 win over in-form Liverpool. The Merseysiders took an early lead, but Hazard equalised via a beautiful curling shot past keeper Simon Mignolet into the top corner. Once again the game was very close, but Samuel Eto’o scored the winner. Much like the Swansea game, Hazard starred and all Chelsea attacks were led by him. While, on the other hand, Suarez failed to have an impact on the game and couldn’t rescue his team a point.

The young Belgian continued his fine form and the Blues continued to win, beating Southampton, Hull City and Manchester United in the process. His only goal in these three matches was the opener at the KC Stadium, but he was lively in all the games. His creativity and pace gave the defenders a hard time at the back and this showed in the goals scored by Fernando Torres, Oscar and a hattrick by Eto’o against United.

Chelsea defeated Stoke in the fourth round of the FA Cup with Hazard starring the show, but in the next game the Blues stumbled slightly as they were left frustrated by West Ham United at home. They followed this with another incredible victory over title favourites Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Branislav Ivanovic may have been the hero of the hour with his goal in the 1-0 win, yet Hazard’s performance stood out the most as he displayed probing runs, vision and drive at the heart of the City defence.

Five days later, came Hazard’s best performance of his career as he netted his first hattrick in English football against an under-performing Newcastle United side at home. He made a mockery of the Magpies defence and was very clinical in front of goal. After the game Mourinho went on to praise the Belgium star saying he is the best young player in the world.

Even though he failed to inspire Chelsea to wins over relegation threatened West Brom in the league and Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, the Blues remain at the top of the Premier League table thanks to City’s game against Sunderland being postponed. The Blues haven’t lost a single league game since the defeat at Stoke in early December and are now 11 matches unbeaten. Watching Hazard play in the past couple of months, we have seen him take the leap that so many talented youngsters fail to take, and that has sent Chelsea at the top of the table.

As Mourinho said after the Newcastle game, Hazard hasn’t received the recognition his performances have deserved this season. Most will say that Suarez has been the standout player in the league this season and they have a good case too. There is little chance Hazard will finish the season with more goals than the Liverpool forward, and the Uruguayan will most likely be taking home the Player of the Season award come May.

But the improvement in Hazard’s game should be acknowledged. Who knows? One Player of the Month award may lead to another, which may lead to many more awards.

Chelsea have a wonderful opportunity this season to win their first league title since the 2009-10 campaign and if they go on to win it, then they will have two people to thank for it. One being the manager, Mourinho and the other one, Hazard.

What’s more worrying for the other teams is Eden might not even be the best Hazard the Blues have in their ranks. Thorgan Hazard joined Chelsea at the same time when Eden did, and according to his older brother, he is better than him. So, if Eden is this good, how good Thorgan can be? Only time will tell..