There is no disputing the fact that Eden Hazard has been the Premier League’s outstanding player of the season so far. While the Belgian ace has been a permanent fixture in the conversation of the world’s best for a while now, this campaign, he has taken his game to the next level.
Fresh from a starring role for Belgium at the World Cup where he won the Silver Ball, Hazard continued his electrifying form in England for Chelsea under new boss Maurizio Sarri. Already the Blues’ best performer in recent seasons, the fleet-footed winger took it up a notch by adding a goalscoring touch to his bamboozling runs in the middle third, with Hazard already netting eight goals and four assists in just eleven appearances for the west London club.
Of course, such mesmerising displays did not go unnoticed, with former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack among those to hail Hazard’s spectacular form this season. The ex-German international, who enjoyed a four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, believes that despite being already in the form of his life, Hazard must step up and accept more responsibility at the club as this will see Chelsea benefit as a result.
“It is a good example when you see the best players and superstars in the team are happy,” said the ex-Blues stalwart. “How they perform is a good sign that something is right in the team. That the relationship is good, that the atmosphere is good. I always said he is an incredible player.
“From my perspective, he should have even more responsibility and even more impact on the team. Not just to enjoy individual freedom which he likes. Players sometimes don’t want to have this heavy weight on their shoulders to carry the team or to get asked in certain situations to have that responsibility.
“I think he is the player who should do that in that team. If you understand how important it is for yourself and for your game and you can handle it, then it will transfer to the team and you will take the next step.”
