Eden Hazard has been totally faultless in the Premier League so far this term and has been the best player in the league by a mile so far. But it is clear that his Chelsea team-mates are overly reliant on his ability to win games single-handedly and Willian has addressed that issue amidst claims that his side’s star man will miss the next two matches.
The 27-year-old is said to be missing the home Europa League with BATE, where his heroics hopefully won’t be needed, and an away trip to Burnley where the Blues should be strong enough to claim all three points. Ahead of the two fixtures, Willian has had his say on Hazard’s impact this term.
“We know how important Hazard is for us, but we have a great team with a lot of quality players,” The Brazilian told the London Evening Standard. “Sometimes he can’t score or make an assist, that’s why we need the whole team. Sometimes he tries and it doesn’t work.
“The other players have to work together to try and do something with each other. Against Manchester United was like that. He tried to score, he tried to dribble.
“They put two-three players around him every time he had the ball and maybe that was why it was difficult for him.
“Will teams look to target him? Yes of course – when a game is like that they look at him, but it means others can find more space.”
It just goes to show how the players in the Chelsea camp feel about the Belgium international and it says a lot that they admit themselves that they must step up their performance to match Hazard’s. It will be interesting to see how the Blues line up for their next two fixtures and whether the playing style will change in his absence.
