Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard returning to form at Euro 2016

Chelsea midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard are making the most of Euro 2016 to reignite their offensive form that went missing for most of the 2015/16 Premier League season.

Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas are coming into form at Euro 2016 for Belgium and Spain. Each player is regaining their core capabilities while showing the willingness to take risks and expand the limits of their game.

Fabregas’ assist on Spain’s only goal against Croatia was an atypical Fabregas helper, and may have been a goal for Fabregas without Morata’s sliding clean-up. Hazard assisted on Radja Nainggolan’s rocket after forgoing an opportunity to create his own opportunity from a preferred position.

A 20-yard, seemingly no-look pass defined the play. The pass was pure Fabregas: precisely placed, exploited a seam in the defense, perfectly weighted, required nothing more than a simple finish from the striker.

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Except the pass was not from Fabregas. He was on the receiving end, applying a striker’s finishing touch after making a striker’s run.

Fabregas called for the ball when he was wide open in the center of the pitch about 30 yards from the Croatia goal. As teammate David Silva took the ball away from the top of the box, Fabregas burst through Croatia’s defense on a slight diagonal to pick out Silva’s bullet. Fabregas’ first touch took the ball towards goal, and Morata ensured it hit the back of the net.

Cesc Fabregas showed his true self late in the first half, sending Alvaro Morata in clear with a 30-yard pass from Spain’s side of the middle third. Morata took a heavy first touch, surrendering the opportunity for what should have been a 2-0 lead. Moments later, Croatia tied the match through Nikola Kalinic on the verge of halftime.

Eden Hazard showed his pace, boldness and explosiveness to set up Romelu Lukaku for Belgium’s first goal against Republic of Ireland. Hazard made a Gareth Bale-style run outside the touchline, around the assistant referee, to get to his second touch in the clear along the right flank. A few taps later, and the ball was on Lukaku’s foot point-blank in front of the goal.

Against Sweden, Eden Hazard drove past his defender with a 15-yard burst to enter the box on the left side. Rather than cutting in and shooting while moving across the face of goal, Hazard posted the ball to Radja Nainggolan at the top of the box on the opposite side. Nainggolan took one touch before curling a half-volley screamer into the far side from 20 yards. Hazard had the opportunity to score one of his trademark goals, but instead opted for the uncharacteristic long diagonal pass out of the box.

Hazard and Fabregas are putting up statistics reminiscent of their 2014/15 season for Chelsea. Complementing the numbers are the return of their vision, confidence and desire. Their statistics last season were disappointing. Their listless, disinterested performances were damning.

Few players at Chelsea have such a direct impact on the team’s performance as Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas. En route to the 2014/15 Premier League championship, Fabregas and Hazard were responsible for over half of Chelsea’s 73 goals. Fabregas netted three goals and teed up 18 assists, while Hazard scored 14 and assisted on 9. Only Diego Costa was similarly impactful, and many of his 20 goals were the end product of a Fabregas set-up.

Both players had the second-best offensive seasons of their respective careers in 2014/15. Their top seasons, statistically, came in weaker leagues (Ligue 1 and La Liga).

Last season, mirroring the club as a whole, Fabregas was responsible for 12 goals (5G, 7A) and Hazard for 7 (4G, 3A). Together they accounted for barely one-third of Chelsea’s 59 goals.

As these two midfielders go, so go the Blues.

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Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas are sending Antonio Conte a strong message about their mentality, ambition and leadership potential. Fabregas is a likely successor to John Terry as team captain. Chelsea’s youth teams and players looking to feature in the first team are watching Fabregas show how top players bounce back from disappointment.

Hazard admits that 2015/16 was his worst-ever season, but he is showing none of the hang-dog disappointment or resentment that afflicted most of the Blues last year. Instead he is proving that he will not repeat the mistakes of last year’s off-season and that he will report to pre-season training physically and mentally prepared.

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That these two are finding their form over summer international duty gives hope that they will avoid the off-season let-down that presaged Chelsea’s failed title defense. In front of their soon-to-be manager, Hazard and Fabregas are proving their value for a manager and team that can tolerate no lapses in the coming years.