Eden Hazard

[CHOULO19 24,332]

The original interview:

French is not my strong language but I think he said: "Chelsea are not made to play with the ball, they are made, like Madrid against Bayern, to play on the counter".

[The only place to be 11,313]

Precisely that. TBH, I don't quite understand some people. We have seen Hazard improved on his defensive duties and track back to defend against his FB when he has to. When that happens, people praised his work for it which is fair and yet, when he doesn't track back, the same lots think he shouldn't be criticized and allowed to get away scott-free with his defensive work. That isn't fair and rather selective, isn't it? If that was the case under Mourinho, Mata wouldn't have been sold and probably will be playing in the starting XI every week. Additionally, going by that logic, we should just defend with 6 players and just let the front 4 go AWOL defensively, almost like when we were under RDM. I do not want to make comparison but if Hazard was causing damage in the same way say Ronaldo does to the opposition offensively, then you can sort of close one eye on his lack of defensive duties since he compensates it by destroying the opposing team. However, since that is not the case (at least not yet anyway) now, then we can't afford to have any slackers, if you like, in the team and everyone need to contribute their fair share of defensive work (especially when this team is by no means the strongest or best yet).

The thing is I actually don't think he did much wrong for their third goal. It's a fantastic ball, but he stays with his man about as well as you could ask a winger who isn't the most natural defender to do.

The first is just appalling though. He doesn't have to head the ball out or even block it, he's just got to be in Juanfran's line of vision to give him something to think about. The whole match swings on that error and it's unfortunate it was Eden who made it.

Having said all that, you've got to give credit to Atletico firstly for Koke's challenge on Luiz to win the ball and then the way they recycled possession. Costa's ball out to the wing turns every defender and he doesn't get enough credit for his ability to create chances that way.

[Jase 43,479]

The thing is I actually don't think he did much wrong for their third goal. It's a fantastic ball, but he stays with his man about as well as you could ask a winger who isn't the most natural defender to do.

The first is just appalling though. He doesn't have to head the ball out or even block it, he's just got to be in Juanfran's line of vision to give him something to think about. The whole match swings on that error and it's unfortunate it was Eden who made it.

Having said all that, you've got to give credit to Atletico firstly for Koke's challenge on Luiz to win the ball and then the way they recycled possession. Costa's ball out to the wing turns every defender and he doesn't get enough credit for his ability to create chances that way.

Yes and the most criminal part of it was he knew Juanfran was there but didn't bother tracking when the cross came in.

[DH1988 1,273]

I do agree though anyone who watches the game can see when he gets the ball there are 2-3 players over to him or they double up or foul him.. now yes its up to him to take the challenge and move into different spaces or pass etc.

BUT! Nobody supports him, its not just him though its on the other side of our team too, our RW and whoever plays in the middle, nobody runs ahead of the ball I can only think of Willian doing it leading up to our goal, its not just the Atletico game, its constant in games, its so frustrating hence why we 80% of the time go backwards to go forwards switching to the other side.

I just hope in the summer its not just a striker we get, this is obvious that we need 2 strikers of good calibre but also a good player next to Matic rather than the bumbling marathon runner Ramires (Sorry Rami..) but we need a passer/+ someone with stability.

Its not just Eden, I repeat, its both sides of our play, Eden just gets the harsher treatment, every game I lose count on the fouls.

Understand his frustration but hopefully he sits down with Jose, gets his head down, comes back stronger with Luke Shaw behind him and running infront of him.

[haranr 485]

Nobody should dare attacking Hazard. Give the kid respect. Don't dare blaming him even though he had a part of it, everyone had a part of it. If you want to blame which I completely admonish, you should blame the whole team.

[haranr 485]

This is a disgrace. Stand out behind your player, doesn't matter if he did a couple of mistakes. Stand behind him and support him. No criticizing should be going on this time! Disgraceful.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Precisely that. TBH, I don't quite understand some people. We have seen Hazard improved on his defensive duties and track back to defend against his FB when he has to. When that happens, people praised his work for it which is fair and yet, when he doesn't track back, the same lots think he shouldn't be criticized and allowed to get away scott-free with his defensive work. That isn't fair and rather selective, isn't it? If that was the case under Mourinho, Mata wouldn't have been sold and probably will be playing in the starting XI every week. Additionally, going by that logic, we should just defend with 6 players and just let the front 4 go AWOL defensively, almost like when we were under RDM. Remember all those goals we conceded from simple cutbacks? I do not want to make comparison but if Hazard was causing damage in the same way say Ronaldo does to the opposition offensively, then you can sort of close one eye on his lack of defensive duties since he compensates it by destroying the opposing team. However, since that is not the case (at least not yet anyway) now, then we can't afford to have any slackers, if you like, in the team and everyone need to contribute their fair share of defensive work (especially when this team is by no means the strongest or best yet).

Why do you choose to ignore the fact that he just came back from a muscular injury.

Why do you choose to ignore the fact that Jose's tactical error of switching a player lacking match fitness to the wing backfired when he was doing perfectly fine through the centre? It was an error that few noticed but it cost us dearly.

Why do you keep banging on and on about this? Let's even assume that Hazard was 100% match fit, which he wasn't, he is a young player that made a mistake.

Why don't you cut him some slack, eh? The kid has been the one carrying our average attack for majority of the season while the others have been ridiculously inconsistent and downright appalling.

Let's not make a mountain out of a mole hill.

[sutro 1,026]

The guy only said we are a counter attacking team like RM and the internet goes in enrage mode, sigh

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

This is a disgrace. Stand out behind your player, doesn't matter if he did a couple of mistakes. Stand behind him and support him. No criticizing should be going on this time! Disgraceful.

The sad thing is most of the criticism doesn't even make any sense. The last thing that crossed my mind after that game was not "oh, Eden's made a mistake". It was "we aren't good enough to beat them without our best team" "Jose's tactics were far too cautious and were even downright ridiculous for a CL semi-final".

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Are we really criticizing Eden for the goals? There were so many individual mistakes yesterday. In those same first and third goals we had about 6 defenders in the box who all decided to play spectators. In the third goal Turan had the time and space to take a free header inside the box and then tap in the rebound without anyone even reacting!

Even if you want to pick out players for defensive mistakes, which this isn't a time for, imo, it would not be Eden who you would pick out.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

The guy only said we are a counter attacking team like RM and the internet goes in enrage mode, sigh

Aye. Just ignore the bullshit. It will die down and it's inevitable. Some of the headlines I'm seeing are hilarious and predictable. The guy compared us to Real Madrid for god's sake, lol

[haranr 485]

The sad thing is most of the criticism doesn't even make any sense. The last thing that crossed my mind after that game was not "oh, Eden's made a mistake". It was "we aren't good enough to beat them without our best team" "Jose's tactics were far too cautious and were even downright ridiculous for a CL semi-final".

We could have beat them, the tactics were fine. We had a bad day at defense and Atletico were super lucky to take full advantage of that. That's it. For me, the problem with the tactics was only the way we led Koke make their game. Luiz should have done much more but I don't blame anyone. I support them!

[haranr 485]

The ones who attack him are fools.

[FabHazard 655]

Sure he has to mark juanfran and he is at fault for that goal...but he has to get same support from fullbacks..we should defend like a team but attack should get same support ...nobody is making runs...every time he goes forward 2-3 players are marking him...all i am saying is that both fullbacks should make forward runs...look at dortmund....they defend like a team and attack like a team when dortmund player gets the ball from opposition player he has atleast 4-5 passing options because of their runs...hope mourinho improves our attack next season...we need a top midfielder next to matic

[Jase 43,479]

Why do you choose to ignore the fact that he just came back from a muscular injury.

I never chose to ignore but the issue is, Hazard was there, he knew Juanfran was behind him. So, why did he let him go scott-free without doing anything? He only had to run a bit to put pressure on Juanfran and/or block the shot.

Why do you choose to ignore the fact that Jose's tactical error of switching a player lacking match fitness to the wing backfired when he was doing perfectly fine through the centre? It was an error that few noticed but it cost us dearly.

He was doing perfectly fine through the centre? Hardly. And it still doesn't excuse him of his defensive work when he got switched out wide (though on the bigger picture, he shouldn't have even started in the first place).

Why do you keep banging on and on about this? Let's even assume that Hazard was 100% match fit, which he wasn't, he is a young player that made a mistake.

Why don't you cut him some slack, eh? The kid has been the one carrying our average attack for majority of the season while the others have been ridiculously inconsistent and downright appalling.

Agree but again, that is not an excuse, not for me. If people can praise him when he does well, then why can't people cricitize him when he doesn't do well? It's only fair to praise him when he deserves one and criticize him when he deserves one as well.

Let's not make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Agree but nothing wrong with trying to discuss on the issue more extensively..

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

What bothers me a bit about Mourinho tactics, is that he plays like he's the lesser team against any decent opposition. Defensive, counter-style football. He even did that at Real. It's not really nice to watch and with the attacking qualities Chelsea has it's not really necessary to put 6 defensive players on the pitch in a home-game. The point was to score a goal, right?

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

We could have beat them, the tactics were fine. We had a bad day at defense and Atletico were super lucky to take full advantage of that. That's it. For me, the problem with the tactics was only the way we led Koke make their game. Luiz should have done much more but I don't blame anyone. I support them!

The tactics were far from fine. I've already pointed out the errors I thought were made in that game (IMO) on the "Mourinho thread". But then again, that's the difference between managing a Bayern or Madrid for example as opposed to a Chelsea. At a Chelsea, any slight tactical error, tweak of the formation/line-up or mistimed substitution can look really bad.

[haranr 485]

I never chose to ignore but the issue is, Hazard was there, he knew Juanfran was behind him. So, why did he let him go scott-free without doing anything? He only had to run a bit to put pressure on Juanfran and/or block the shot.

He was doing perfectly fine through the centre? Hardly. And it still doesn't excuse him of his defensive work when he got switched out wide (though on the bigger picture, he shouldn't have even started in the first place).

Agree but again, that is not an excuse, not for me. If people can praise him when he does well, then why can't people cricitize him when he doesn't do well? It's only fair to praise him when he deserves one and criticize him when he deserves one as well.

Agree but nothing wrong with trying to discuss on the issue more extensively..

You are a disgrace! Get the hell out!