Eden Hazard

[Weckerz 3,781]

It's not scapegoating. The truth is that Atletico are a better team than us right now, and they're at a different stage in their development. They're peaking, two and a half years into Simeone's tenure whilst we're probably one transfer window away from being a 'Mourinho side'.

That means we can't beat them in a level game, and have to out-manoeuvre them just like we did against Liverpool at the weekend. We won that game because every player did their job. Every player marked their man, tracked the run and was in exactly the right place at almost every time.

What yesterday highlighted is just how much bs Rodgers was spouting when he said it was easy to coach - it isn't. It requires intense focus and no mistakes, and unfortunately Eden dropped a massive clanger. It's unfair to say he cost us the game because there are factors that go back years that contributed to us not winning (signing Torres, not signing midfielders, suspensions etc.) but he was at fault for that goal, and it turned the entire tie on it's head.

I agree with 90% you're saying but laying the blame on Hazard (not you in particular btw) is scapegoating. Admittedly the goal came at a very annoying time but there were 2 more goals scored.

I don't think any individual is to blame for tonight's loss, as you said, Atletico are the superior team and deserve to be in the final.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I'm glad he made those comments though. Let it be out there just like how mourinho made comments about our strikers and they started scoring, maybe we'll learn how to play in possession now

[didierforever 7,349]

Actually to be fair, I don't think he did play that badly. Yes he made a defensive error, but then again what do you expect from a player that's pretty much specialized in attacking? Forwards just don't do well there. An interesting statistic was said on Belgium tv when Eto'o committed the penalty error, the 5 last penalties Chelsea conceded in the CL were caused by forwards. You just don't want them to do too much defending. The first goal was certainly an error, but it's a typical error for an offensive player in that position. You see those often enough. They just don't have the concentration and just aren't that used to man marking. Still it was certainly an error. But to me one that is understandable. Especially when you lack games.

However I do not agree that Hazard played badly at the other side of the game. When you say he was doubled up by defenders you're actually not telling the truth. Most of the time he was ganged up on by three players. Even if got past the first two the third would have positioned himself so that he could recuperate the ball. Also even if he got past three players he still didn't have anyone to pass to. Are you seriously suggesting that he should be able to get past the double layer of defensive players on his own , especially when pressed at the sidelines, with very little else distracting Athletico's players? That's madness. Chelsea never dared to commit to attack, and hence could barely ever attack effectively against a strong, dangerous side who itself is good at defending and counter attacking. Atheletico was both committed to both attacking and defending. We only to the latter. Which means you've got a lot more defending to do. Which means a lot of players who aren't defenders need to do more defending. Which also means the other side feels safe committing to the attacks and tend to be able to get the ball back quickly if a clearance is made,...

Seriously I'm not saying that we per se had the wrong tactics to start out with, but when you need to chase a goal or more against a team who's specialized in counter attacking and perhaps the second best in the world at it (I guess RM showed they are truly the best). Well then you know it's going to be difficult and luck would become a bigger factor than tactics.

Hazard made 5 succesfull dribbles (most of all our players, actually it's one dribble away from being the total amount of dribbles made by all our other players). Ge made a few crosses after reaching the backline on his own. But as we usually only have one player (Torres) in the box , he sadly couldn'y reach anyone. Often when ganged up on by multiple players he got free kicks or corners out of them. Which is if we're being honest the best he could do. Even Messi and Ronaldo wouldn't have pulled off dribbles followed by shots on targets from there. Perhaps they could manage a cross, but then... to whom? Except for that he had a passing accuracy of 87% which is the second highest percentage of the players who played a full game. Terry had the best of these lot, but he only made half as many passes. William who played for 77 minutes had 89%, but he as well had about half the amount of passes. Add 4 crosses, 3 accurate long balls and 2 key passes and we can only conclude that his passing game even against such a defensive team was more than good enough. 5 dribbles and 9 times fouled means his dribbling was as well. Cause let's not forget often when he got past players they took him down, so what could he do? He also managed 2 shorts on target, which is again the most of all our players. And while William was involved with the goal, I wouldn't say he was better at attacking on average. No doubt he is better at putting on pressure, tackling and backtracking. But I doubt these were the qualities we bought Hazard for.

Whoscored.com one of my favourite sites to go to for post match stats, rated hazard as the best CFC player and the third best man on the pitch. Now that might be a little exaggerated. But I think the site who bases everything on statistics rather than emotions probably gives a better view on reality than our disappointed minds.

Was this truly a good game for him? No. But considering the context he did rather well and was far from one of our worse players. Nor was he the only one making defensive errors. And if there's one guy that doesn't need to be criticised to harshly for a defensive error, it's the team's attacking talisman. Who made it possible for us to be at these stages of competitions. Does that mean he shouldn't get any blame. No. But let's not get crazy either.

Or are we letting ourselves get mad because he said we are better at counter attacking and compared us to a CL finalist and favourite? Cause that'd just be plain silly.

Edit: Note I'm not directing this personally to Didierforever. The you was directed to people in general or in other words the reader of this post.

i am sorry to say this then, that hazard does not "deserve" to start at this big a stage for a team that basically oozes defence out of its every pour. we play in a system that has been set out by our coach and every player of this squad has a role in that "system" and no one, NO ONE is exempt from that. we sold our twice POTY cos he could not adjust to our philosophy.

defence is the hardest thing to do in football. 90 minutes of PERFECT play and all right calls and decision making can be hopelessly spoiled by a moment's laziness. that is what happened yesterday. for the 1st goal, hazard saw the runner, but thought that the ball was going out and simply dint track him, it had NOTHING to do with 1. his injury, 2. his match fitness, 3, his defensive prowess. even if hazard had tracked him back and only tried to shield the ball from him, it would definitely have gone from a goalkick.

as in the attacking half on the match, he was decent. as i told stingray, i may have gone over-board cos of "haranr's" persistence, but that simply does not and will never give exclude him for doing the dirty side of the work for us too.

Was this truly a good game for him? No. But considering the context he did rather well and was far from one of our worse players. Nor was he the only one making defensive errors. And if there's one guy that doesn't need to be criticised to harshly for a defensive error, it's the team's attacking talisman. Who made it possible for us to be at these stages of competitions. Does that mean he shouldn't get any blame. No. But let's not get crazy either.

Or are we letting ourselves get mad because he said we are better at counter attacking and compared us to a CL finalist and favourite? Cause that'd just be plain silly.

how did he do well when he has made the most basic mistake which renders our whole system incompetent. "do not let an opposition player get behind the defence". twice. also, no one is going crazy here. but if u keep saying, hazard is awesome and should have no blame whatsoever, people are going to get over u. he can say what he wants, i ll prefer to judge him on what he does on the field.

[iseah100 5,612]

Funny, without Hazard we wouldn't be here. So blame him all you want, just remember the role he plays on our team.

[Jase 43,479]

I agree with 90% you're saying but laying the blame on Hazard (not you in particular btw) is scapegoating. Admittedly the goal came at a very annoying time but there were 2 more goals scored.

I don't think any individual is to blame for tonight's loss, as you said, Atletico are the superior team and deserve to be in the final.

Inclined to agree but think there's a difference here in actually pinning the blame on Hazard for the defeat and just criticizing the mistakes he made for the 1st and even 3rd goal conceded. From what I've read in the past few pages, the talk has mostly been about the latter with only a few, very few, probably suggesting the former. Yet to see everyone turning this into a scapegoating and blowing it out of proportion by saying things like "Hazard is the reason why we lost!".

[laura90 556]

No one should blame Hazard for yesterday's result.

It's so easy to blame players for individual mistakes without taking into consideration how big their roles are.

Every single of our eleven players has to defend. Every single.

And only Hazard and Willian and maybe Torres needed to attack, with Hazard and Willian doing far more.

So, is it easy for Hazard to carry every our attack against very organized and quality side while concetrating 100% on defefense at the same time?

He had to do enormous job yesterday, he made mistake, it happens when people are under pressure.

We had perfect defense against Liverpool because players could carry out their game plan whatever it was.

We had less than perfect defense yesterday because I suppose we couldn't carry out our game plan as we wanted to. Simeone set up his team to prevent us to play our game and made us pretty uncomfortable. They defended deep, we had possession and attacked and this was the situation where our players didn't feel, let's say comfortable and overly confident.

Our midfield of two defenders and Ramires couldn't do the job either. We missed some players.

They were mistakes prone almost entire game, and reason for that goes beyond individual mistakes, something went wrong in the system.

[Roquila 1,335]

Funny, without Hazard we wouldn't be here. So blame him all you want, just remember the role he plays on our team.

Why's that? Dont get me wrong, i am not saying that Hazard is useless but you cannot say we wouldnt be here without Hazard. He didnt contribute anything extraordinary. If there is one player that deserves the praise for this CL campaign then it's Schurrle.

[haranr 485]

Am not a real supporter? Yeah, like I give a shit about whether others think I'm a real supporter or not. It's quite sad when people have to resort to such cheap attacks in a discussion rather than have a civilized debate.

It is, but you know what's more sad? The way you criticize YOUR player after such a game.

[Jase 43,479]

It is, but you know what's more sad? The way you criticize YOUR player after such a game.

[Polo7 3,496]

Ugh cant believe people are still defending Hazard blindly. No one can blame Hazard solely for the loss, we were beaten by the better team. But you as a player cant track a player halfway and then think fuck it I cant be bothered. Cole moved more centrally because he trusted Hazard to stick to the man. It was vital for us to make half time 1-0 up, unfortunately when that didnt happen our team didnt do enough to win the game.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Shit happened - who cares, it's over - onwards and upwards...

Win as a team, lose as a team

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We conceded goal, the cross that led to that goal was from side that was protected with 2 full backs...says all realy.

Mourinho tried to play open football with full back in attacking trio, when we scored the goal, we should defend defend defend. Its what we do best this season. Yet Mou tried something new, attacking (if we can call that), fucked up, changed lineup and completely exposed us...

It was bad work from everyone on the pitch, and Atletico had bit luck, but deserved to go through.

[Pizy 18,538]

There are actually idiots like those mongs at the Mirror saying we may "struggle to keep Hazard" this summer because he's so "frustrated" with our tactics.

Fucking idiots!

[MAF 162]

Tbh i think at the time when Eden was choosing witch English club he'd join he chose Chelsea because at the time Roman envisioned a more attacking style then what we're currently playing. I remember him speaking about his conversation with Roman, and it was certainly something along those lines. he's done his best to fit into Mourinho's system, but maybe it won't work out in the long run and he'll leave or be sold. we have to be realistic about this. the football we've been playing can't be the stuff a player like Eden is dreaming of...

[The Chels 2,502]

It is, but you know what's more sad? The way you criticize YOUR player after such a game.

Pointing out a player's mistakes/faults/weaknesses doesn't make you any less of a fan. Surely you should know that given how you've been criticising Oscar recently!

[Superblue 6,372]

Whilst not all the blame can be put on Hazard's doorstep, he has to accept partial responsibility. Just because he's an offensive, attacking player and it's 'not his game' is not a justifiable excuse in my opinion. There are two players in the world that can be excused do any defensive work and that's Messi and Ronaldo. And before people start the 'Hazard has the potential to be as good' comments, he's a fantastic player but he won't ever get to that level.

Some of the top players in the world below these two such as Bale, Suarez and Ribery all put in a serious shift defensively for their teams. To make a mistake now and again is acceptable, every player will. But some people seemingly making him immune from criticism is ridiculous.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Whilst not all the blame can be put on Hazard's doorstep, he has to accept partial responsibility. Just because he's an offensive, attacking player and it's 'not his game' is not a justifiable excuse in my opinion. There are two players in the world that can be excused do any defensive work and that's Messi and Ronaldo. And before people start the 'Hazard has the potential to be as good' comments, he's a fantastic player but he won't ever get to that level.

Some of the top players in the world below these two such as Bale, Suarez and Ribery all put in a serious shift defensively for their teams. To make a mistake now and again is acceptable, every player will. But some people seemingly making him immune from criticism is ridiculous.

I'm fed up with this seriously. You are barking up the wrong tree and making dreadful points.

(1) First of all, Hazard can't be as good? What a stupid comment. Are you God? Ronaldo at 23 (same age as Hazard is now) put up similar numbers and performances in the 2006/2007 season to what Hazard has done this season. And Ronaldo was actually playing next to a real striker in Rooney and a team playing some marvelous, attacking football, with less impetus to track back. There is nothing stopping Hazard from elevating his game even further. The fact that a so-called supporter will type nonsense like this....... It gives CFC fans a bad name. The fact that a so-called CFC supporter attacks a young player, and a good guy (from what we see in interviews) like Hazard is a great shame. He has already accomplished an awful lot in his short career.

(2) Hazard has done more than his fair share of tracking back this season, even more than he should be doing considering he carries the attacking work almost on his own. Maybe Mourinho should give his best players more attacking freedom instead of turning them into robots. At least that spares us from watching the turgid, awful football we've been playing all season.

(3) Bale? Bale tracks back? I've watched him a lot this season, and he doesn't really track back that much. Ancelotti has offered him the creative freedom that such attacking players crave. Ribery? He plays for a team that averages 72% possession their league. He doesn't really need to track back. Suarez? The point is moot as you're comparing a CF to a winger. It's a silly comparison.

Almost everything you typed was non-factual, and to add insult to injury, you attack our best player by saying he will never be as good as Messi or Ronaldo. Perhaps he will be better off in a team that actually knows how to play good, attacking possession based football!

[zolayes 14,489]

Whilst not all the blame can be put on Hazard's doorstep, he has to accept partial responsibility. Just because he's an offensive, attacking player and it's 'not his game' is not a justifiable excuse in my opinion. There are two players in the world that can be excused do any defensive work and that's Messi and Ronaldo. And before people start the 'Hazard has the potential to be as good' comments, he's a fantastic player but he won't ever get to that level.

Some of the top players in the world below these two such as Bale, Suarez and Ribery all put in a serious shift defensively for their teams. To make a mistake now and again is acceptable, every player will. But some people seemingly making him immune from criticism is ridiculous.

in baseball usually the pitchers never bat ,, except in cross sections ,,, then the pitchers are invariably crap .. I am in favour of defending from the

front but the criticism of our MOST potent attacker because of his defensive abililities is frankly ludicrous .

The greatest play makers in rugby union were the number 10s or fly halves .. THE BEST NEVER tackled ,, it was too dangerous ..

Johnny Wilkiinson changed that idea .. attacker and DESTROYER in defence ... worked wonders till the injuries piled up .

Wrap Eden in cotton wool ,, WE NEED his special talents