UEFA have released their shortlist of players in contention for the Best Player In Europe award. Chelsea FC are represented, with Eden Hazard flying the flag for the Stamford Bridge faithful.
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Hazard has already been showered in awards and accolades this season, with various organisations recognising his stellar contributions to Chelsea’s double-winning 2014/15 campaign. He has been named Chelsea’s Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year to name but a few. He now has the chance of being called Europe’s best footballer as well.
The other nine players in contention are Gianluigi Buffon, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suárez, Carlos Tévez and Arturo Vidal. Unfortunately, no matter how great Hazard was for the Blues last season, it’s unlikely that he’ll be taking home the award against this competition.
As you may have noticed, in addition to being Chelsea’s sole representative, the Belgian is also the Premier League’s only contribution to the pool.
In a clear indication of the direction in which the supposed best league in the world has headed in recent times, Spain and Italy have four and five representatives respectively while England provides only one.
Perhaps even more telling is that in the 35 players who received votes in the initial poll, only three ply their trade in the Premier League. Hazard is joined by Alexis Sánchez of Arsenal, and team-mate Nemanja Matic. (New Liverpool acquisition Roberto Firmino is also listed, if you really want to count that…) In fact four out of the top ten have left the Premier League to greener pastures.
However, the saddest fact of them all is that no English player features in the 35 either. Wales does (Gareth Bale) but England doesn’t. Not even the £49million Raheem Sterling received a vote.
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It is evident that the Premier League has fallen from its position as the crème de la crème of world football, and this news has done nothing but reinforce the sentiment.
It also suggests that if the Blues want to realistically press for the Champions League crown next season, strengthening is definitely required in most departments. Dominating the Premier League no longer means anything when it comes to European competition.
In the meantime, the contenders will be whittled down to three on August 12th, before the winner is announced during the Champions League draw on August 28th.
Until then, Jose Mourinho better get busy in the transfer market.
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