Eden Hazard is having a fantastic season for Chelsea FC but there is always room for improvement. He is Chelsea’s driving creative force and it is hard to recall a single match where he was not the best player on the pitch for the Blues.
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He is becoming a more mature player every season and he does more for his team than ever before in terms of defensive contribution and work rate. Hazard however recently told ESPN FC that he knows he must raise his level of play and continue to get better.
Hazard has added new dimensions to his game this season including scoring headed goals, something he is not exactly known for doing. Scoring goals in particular is the only real weakness in his game right now as he often looks to make the final pass rather than shooting on goal. He is not as unselfish to a fault as someone like Mesut Ozil but there are moments in matches when he should be more selfish and go for goal.
Eden Hazard on trying to improve:
"I have to raise my level. I am gaining experience. It’s a big match every weekend, and each season I find new qualities. This season I score headers. Who would have thought it? I am progressing. I’m happy with my season, like I was with last season. I am continuing my apprenticeship.People expect Eden to score 30 to 40 goals a season. I don’t think about doing it. I’m not like that. If there is a point in my game where I still need to work, it is of course, to be more efficient — to play even more for myself, to score goals. But I am having a great season. Maybe I will have two trophies, and that will be great."
One moment in particular stands out this season in the match against West Ham. It was the dying moments of the match and Chelsea was clinging to a one goal lead. After some nifty footwork, Eden Hazard found himself one on one with the keeper and rather than shoot for the far post or chip him, he laid the ball off to Willian.
It was an excellent pass but Willian, perhaps not expecting the ball, fluffed his lines and the match was still hanging in the balance. Hazard had the chance to end the match right then and there and he has the quality to do so but instead opted to set his teammate up for what should have been an easy goal.
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The young Belgian has also struggled in some 1v1 situations this season but it is obviously not from a lack of confidence. He showed against Hull City that he can score from long range and every penalty he takes and converts is a lesson in confidence. What may be lacking however is the killer instinct and selfishness of a true goalscorer. Some call it arrogance when they see Cristiano Ronaldo do it but Lionel Messi is the same.
They are always shooting on goal and only make the pass when they know for sure that their teammate has a better chance to score. That is how they score so many goals for their respective teams. While 30 or 40 goals is not realistic, there is no reason why Eden Hazard can not score 15-20 goals a season. He has the talent and skill necessary and just needs that extra killer instinct in his game, something Jose Mourinho is surely working with his young superstar to develop.
Photos by @cfcunoffical (Chelsea Debs). On Twitter and at cfcunofficial.com
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