Eden Hazard

[robsblubot 3,595]

there is no fault. We were playing another quality side - not to mention just as expensive. Drawing or even losing was always a possibility unless you were delusional like some around here are.

However, hazard was poor for me. Just like the other players in attack.

If opposition being physical, like psg are, is going to be a problem for hazard and our players then we are sure fucked!

[DYC. 7,542]

there is no fault. We were playing another quality side - not to mention just as expensive. Drawing or even losing was always a possibility unless you were delusional like some around here are.

However, hazard was poor for me. Just like the other players in attack.

If opposition being physical, like psg are, is going to be a problem for hazard and our players then we are sure fucked!

I agree with the part of dealing with physicality. It's a real problem. The ball circulation is just far too slow. Most Chelsea midfielders are lightweights so if you're moving the ball around slowly, you give the opponent the opportunity to challenge you. And the lack of width is also a big problem. Have you noticed how this side rare switches play from one side to the other? I don't understand how stretching the opposition, attacking the flanks is pretty much never an option.

I disagree with Hazard being poor though. His options were very limited and everytime he had the ball, he was surrounded by PSG players. Impossible for him to just run through them. And when there were chances to combine and exchange some quick interplay, he rarely got the ball back. I thought he did very well under the circumstances, winning space for his team on quite a lot. He never let his head down either, he kept trying.

I find it very disappointing how the manager was not willing to take a defender off after the red card (after half-time). PSG were playing with Cavani up front and Matuidi close behind him. Matuidi off all people, the furthest thing of an attacker. And yet there were still 5, 6 players behind the ball in possession on Chelsea's side, heavily retreating when defending. I don't understand why Cahill or Ivanovic wasn't taken off for Remy, playng with three at the back. Matic right in front of the defence, with Fabregas and Ramires in midfield. Take off Oscar for Cuadrado. Cuadrado and Hazard out wide with Costa and Remy up top.

3 v 2 at the back, 3 v 3 in the middle, 4 v 4 up front. Keep the ball, hit them on the flanks and press them when you lose it. PSG would have no option but to sit deep and defend for the most part. They would never let Marquinhos and Maxwell face Hazard and Cuadrado on their own, forcing the PSG midfielders to move all over the place, which results into more space in the middle. PSG would hardly get a sniff at goal because of the huge amount of space they would have to cover with a man down.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

tomorrow will be he's 400th official game in his career.

Some other players at the exact same age:

-Rooney 395

-raul 382

-cr7 374

-owen 334

-Giggs 325

-Messi 276

-Zidane 265

Am I the only one who finds this kind of worrying thinking of his physical condition after 30?

[sutro 1,026]

Am I the only one who finds this kind of worrying thinking of his physical condition after 30?

in the intervieuw were i got these numbers from they asked him if he would play thousand + pl games like Giggs did and he said "my body wont last that long"

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

in the intervieuw were i got these numbers from they asked him if he would play thousand + pl games like Giggs did and he said "my body wont last that long"

Well I'm pretty sure he's right...

Look how much Messi and Zidane were spared in their younger years. Owen probably played too much, since he now has the body of an 80-year old, and Rooney is exceptional because he's built like a buffalo... .

[Oscar 441]

Did you guys really think hazard was going to play as long as giggs?

It would be great if he can last till his early 30s playing in a top league.

[iseah100 5,612]

He's 24, let's not worry about that guys. It makes me sad:(

[Coop 114]

He's 24, let's not worry about that guys. It makes me sad:(

Indeed, medical and physical they are getting better and better.

He rarely goes into the red zone so I think we will enjoy him for a long time.

[Polo7 3,496]

Lol when Hazard plays poorly its Mourinho's fault. Tactics werent spot on. When Hazard plays well, he carries the team.

[Tchekitchek 37]

I agree with the part of dealing with physicality. It's a real problem.

They were not physical, they were aggressive, almost violent. Cavani, Verratti etc... kicking the legs of Hazard at every opportunity and not being punished enough for this.

The problem is Hazard enjoys a reputation in France almost bigger than in England; and Blanc who is an admirer of Hazard knows that it's better to foul Hazard and play ugly than letting him play.

Yes, there are too many lightweight... I mean Ramires, Oscar and Fabregas are great players, but they get pushed around too much and Costa is too slow and Matic is not enough.

[iseah100 5,612]

They were not physical, they were aggressive, almost violent. Cavani, Verratti etc... kicking the legs of Hazard at every opportunity and not being punished enough for this.

The problem is Hazard enjoys a reputation in France almost bigger than in England; and Blanc who is an admirer of Hazard knows that it's better to foul Hazard and play ugly than letting him play.

Yes, there are too many lightweight... I mean Ramires, Oscar and Fabregas are great players, but they get pushed around too much and Costa is too slow and Matic is not enough.

They were playing illegally. Hazard even got sick of it at one point with Cavani when he kicked his outside leg. I could imagine how frustrated he was. No protection.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I agree with the part of dealing with physicality. It's a real problem. The ball circulation is just far too slow. Most Chelsea midfielders are lightweights so if you're moving the ball around slowly, you give the opponent the opportunity to challenge you. And the lack of width is also a big problem. Have you noticed how this side rare switches play from one side to the other? I don't understand how stretching the opposition, attacking the flanks is pretty much never an option.

I disagree with Hazard being poor though. His options were very limited and everytime he had the ball, he was surrounded by PSG players. Impossible for him to just run through them. And when there were chances to combine and exchange some quick interplay, he rarely got the ball back. I thought he did very well under the circumstances, winning space for his team on quite a lot. He never let his head down either, he kept trying.

I find it very disappointing how the manager was not willing to take a defender off after the red card (after half-time). PSG were playing with Cavani up front and Matuidi close behind him. Matuidi off all people, the furthest thing of an attacker. And yet there were still 5, 6 players behind the ball in possession on Chelsea's side, heavily retreating when defending. I don't understand why Cahill or Ivanovic wasn't taken off for Remy, playng with three at the back. Matic right in front of the defence, with Fabregas and Ramires in midfield. Take off Oscar for Cuadrado. Cuadrado and Hazard out wide with Costa and Remy up top.

3 v 2 at the back, 3 v 3 in the middle, 4 v 4 up front. Keep the ball, hit them on the flanks and press them when you lose it. PSG would have no option but to sit deep and defend for the most part. They would never let Marquinhos and Maxwell face Hazard and Cuadrado on their own, forcing the PSG midfielders to move all over the place, which results into more space in the middle. PSG would hardly get a sniff at goal because of the huge amount of space they would have to cover with a man down.

That will always happen in big games. These types of matches are always physical and players are always under pressure. He's under pressure and his teammates are under pressure too. You say they are not available for hazard to pick them up, but when they try to make clever runs they get followed by the opposition. So is hazard when he is the one trying to get open... linking up play is intrinsically more difficult in tough matches.

I don't believe, with the current crop of players we've got, that is possible to play in any other way against a tough opponent. We must play with a low defense line, so we cannot apply pressure otherwise we are stretched making linkup play even more difficult in these games. Please around here want the impossible... just look at the teams who actually do that and how they are setup. Even PSG is a team that keeps the football and moves up the pitch far more than we do... but they got the players for that.

[DH1988 1,348]

Frustrating, like most if not all of the team.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Frustrating, like most if not all of the team.

Wtf are you talking about? He engineered the goal and was the only to create not sure what else he can do when his teammates are shit.

[DH1988 1,348]

Wtf are you talking about? He engineered the goal and was the only to create not sure what else he can do when his teammates are shit.

Create what..? Unsure how eden is immune to criticism, granted he went past three players often but to run into more traffic instead of passing to a team mate.