Eden Hazard and Antonio Conte have combined perfectly to get Chelsea back on the right track and in the hunt for the Premier League title.
Chelsea have firmly put a horrendous 2015/16 season in the past. The Blues are coming off a hot October and currently find themselves in the race for the Premier League title. Eden Hazard’s rejuvenation under Antonio Conte has been a driving factor behind this early season success.
Since Conte switched to the back three after the Arsenal game, Hazard has taken his performances to another level. The Belgian was playing well anyway, but he now looks like the world-class winger his talent has promised.
This new system affords Hazard more freedom, with the defensive workload being largely lifted off his shoulders. Speaking about him, Conte confirmed the increased scope for creativity the back three provides Hazard.
"When we have the ball, Eden has freedom but he always has to respect the other two strikers. In this system Eden is working a lot without the ball but in a position further forward than before. For him it’s better. – via Daily Star"
This has been evident over the last month or so, with Hazard roaming behind the striker. He has looked excited and eager for the ball. Moreover, he has rediscovered his eye for goal, taking more shots and taking on more players than he did last season.
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Hazard’s record has reflected this, with the winger hitting the back of the net seven times in 11 Premier League games.
A reliance on a star player is often cause for criticism. However, almost every great team has a talisman. For Chelsea, Hazard is their key player and hence his return to form was a must for the Blues to do anything this season.
Jose Mourinho wants all his players to work defensively and Hazard was inhibited by that burden. Conte, though, has broken the chains and is reaping the rewards. Interestingly, Chelsea’s defensive performances have not been negatively affected. In fact, the Blues have not conceded a single goal in the five Premier League matches since the change in systems.
The squad has taken to the new formation extremely well and with incredible ease. The likes of Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta have stepped up to the plate in unfamiliar positions. Up front, the right version of Diego Costa continues to turn up as well.
With all these pieces in place, Hazard is free to run the show. He has the potential to be one of the world’s premier attacking players, as he proved two seasons ago. Conte has facilitated his resurgence through a combination of effective man-management and fresh tactics.
With these two on the same page, the sky is the limit for Chelsea.