Eden Hazard - Chelsea's New Hero?

Chelsea signed Hazard for £32 million this summer, the player wanted by the world's top club and the player who is frequently compared with the likes of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.

After destroying Ligue 1 last season will he successfully make the transition to the Prem??
What are peoples thoughts...

Here's one point of view

At 21 years old a £32 million move to the reigning European champions and comparisons with one Lionel Messi are a lot to live up to, but Eden Hazard is not in the least bit fazed. As Hazard himself put it in an interview, he is merely looking to “succeed the Eden Hazard way”.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo warned Chelsea fans this week not to expect too much too soon of the Belgian playmaker but I should think this will go in one ear and out the other for Blues fans, no scratch that, football fans nationwide. This is a player with fantastic movement, superb dribbling skills and a level of awareness rare in one so young. Put simply he is a star in the making. Just watch this video as proof.


There is of course always the question of whether players can make the transition to the Premier League. Hazard has spent the previous seven years at Lille and four of those years playing in Ligue 1; this will be his first season strutting his stuff in one of the world’s ‘top’ leagues. But he’s unquestionably reached the stage where he’s outgrown Lille and has well and truly earned a new challenge.

Last season he scored 22 goals in 48 games (note: he’s an attacking midfielder, not a striker) and chipped in with an additional 16 assists. He won the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Season award two seasons in a row, becoming the second player in the history of the award to do so (Pauleta was the first). In 2010-11 he was the youngest player ever to win this award, and in the same season he played a big part as Lille achieved the league and cup double.

This is a player who is ready to take on the big guns of the Premier League and after Di Matteo pipped the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson to the signing of the youngster, the other 19 Premiership managers, Sir Alex included, must be dreading coming up with a plan to stop him. Frequent comparisons with Messi have been drawn from his dribbling talents, but also their shared strength and poise despite a small stature. At 5 ft 7 1/2 he is only half an inch taller than his Argentinean counterpart, yet defenders frequently struggle to knock him off the ball.

This said the Premier League contains teams far more disciplined than those in Ligue 1; Hazard will have to pit his skills against defences that are far better organised and less forgiving this season. He will need to improve his focus but this is something that develops over time, and at 21 time is a luxury that Hazard has more than enough of. Whilst he may not do enough to win Chelsea the title, I should think that despite Di Matteo’s calls to be patient, Eden Hazard will set the Premiership alight in his debut season.

Expect goals, electrifying runs and a first touch to die for. Defenders beware, Chelsea’s answer to Messi has arrived.

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I think he will. I don't see why he wouldn't?

He'll be lucky to even start for Chelsea.

Not convinced by him. Mata >>>

Oscar will be a better signing IMO.

Think he'll struggle like Silva did in his debut season. I agree with Mole Oscar will have a bigger impact this year if he plays in his preferred position.

Thorgan >>> Eden

Does anyone ever struggle in the PL anymore? I mean, anyone who was good in the first place?

He will do fine aslong as the team dont play retarded. Too much talent.

inb4 Marin suddenly acquires decision-making skills and outshines him

If he plays like this he'll succeed:



Unfortunately Chelsea lost this match...but it gives you a glimpse of his potential.

The Franchise wrote:Does anyone ever struggle in the PL anymore? I mean, anyone who was good in the first place?

He will do fine aslong as the team dont play retarded. Too much talent.

That's why he'll struggle IMO.

Di Matteo has been misusing him in pre-season. Looked lost in pretty much all our games.

Well maybe, but I think over a course of a season, even half a season, things will settle down and there will be some form of consistency with the line up and the tactics...I imagine.

Either way, I was thinking longer term. Not just a few months or something.

_LMG_10_ wrote:If he plays like this he'll succeed:
Unfortunately Chelsea lost this match...but it gives you a glimpse of his potential.

That video isn't very flattering at all.

Gil i would'nt pay much attention to pre-season we have been playing like City last season but i'll be very surprised if it's like that come kick off.

i.e. fullbacks act as wingbacks, Midfielders drop deep, centrebacks go wide, wingers come inside and 1 striker playing in the hole dropping into midfield to help with distrubution and join the main CF when possible.

I will eat a hat if we play like that when the season starts.

Just like i'll be very surprised if any of Hazard's pre-season form translate to his form when the season starts.

Some take time to adjust and some don't. He has language, new league and new teammates/team/style to get used to before anything can be expected of him.

Hazard will do OK. He is around mata's level Imo.

questions: will the younger hazard play for Chelsea first team?
if the young sibling is so good, why didnr lille use him to replace Eden and win a League or two more beforw selling him?

Baby Hazard is very average, don't think we'd be near him if he wasn't Eden's brother.

Bear-Felix wrote:Baby Hazard is very average, don't think we'd be near him if he wasn't Eden's brother.

Everyone in France and Belgium always said "Baby Hazard" had the higher ceiling so I doubt that's the only reason you signed him.

_LMG_10_ wrote:If he plays like this he'll succeed:



Unfortunately Chelsea lost this match...but it gives you a glimpse of his potential.

He looked kak in this video. Like a poor mans Samir Nasri.

He's better than this.

The savior


Nah, obviously happens to everyone but still funny

Dear oh dear

Happens with the best of us...

Guys easy on Eden, I'm sure he did that questionable dive in pure reactionary agony after being in De Jong's pocket for the whole game.

What are you guys talking about? That was pure skill. Look at the precision of the way he chops the ball a foot into the air with the back of his heel, that made De Jong almost fall off his feet. All I see is him burning De Jong.

Spoiler: