Chelsea FC 2-2 Tottenham: 5 things we learned
By Yves Binda
3. Hazard can still be unplayable
When Chelsea’s lineup was announced, the omission of Eden Hazard surprised me more than the ultra defensive pairing of Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel in midfield. This is especially after the Belgian bagged a couple of goals last week against Bournemouth and seemed to rediscover some joy in his game.
But in the end, Guus Hiddink’s decision to leave him out of the starting eleven looked like a stroke of genius. Hazard entered the game with Chelsea already down by two goals, with the game seemingly out of reach. This acted to nullify any potential pressure the Chelsea number 10 could have put on himself with his comments.
With a few pounds off his frame and his explosive first step back, Hazard reminded everyone why he was the PFA player of the year last season. His fantastic finish for the equaliser was indicative of the great player he can be.
The Belgian will be hoping to kick on and finish this campaign strongly as the EUROs dawn. A decent show in France will significantly boost his confidence as he seeks to make amends next season. It’s time to get excited about Hazard again.
Next: 4. Diego Costa is a liability