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PODCAST: Eden Hazard continues to frustrate, but should Chelsea fans live with it?

By The Pride of London Staff

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Eden Hazard of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on February 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Eden Hazard of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on February 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Eden Hazard was fantastic for Chelsea in their win over Arsenal as he put on a clinic. However, the performance was also a reminder of how inconsistent he can be.

Eden Hazard is a frustrating man. Having thoroughly disappointed during the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool, he tore Arsenal apart on Saturday as Chelsea ran out 3-1 victors. Should fans just accept that his inconsistency will never be properly remedied?

This was the subject of debate on the latest episode of The Blue Lions (iTunes link). Contributor to The Pride Of London, Travis Tyler, revealed his personal frustrations with a player who teases so much.

"The goal he scored, that’s something we see Messi and Ronaldo do every week, but Hazard will do it two or three times a season…I don’t know where we go with Hazard from here. This is the player he is and he’s not going to change at this point."

Hazard is loved around Stamford Bridge, but what he offers on a regular basis compared with what he offers on occasion is the source of much irritation.

His effort against Arsenal will go down as one of the goals of the season. He carried the ball from midfield, using his strength and control to leave Francis Coquelin on his backside. He then beat a few more defenders before applying a cool finish.

When Chelsea fans see Hazard do such things, they can only wonder why he cannot deliver the goods more frequently. On his day, he is arguably the finest player that the Premier League has to offer. However, he goes missing far too often.

Also speaking on The Blue Lions, POL colleague Siva Sankar spoke of the need to bring in another elite talent to compensate for Hazard’s shortcomings.

"Pedro has been working his socks off and probably is having one of his best seasons ever. But the threat isn’t there. If you get someone like Griezmann or James Rodriguez, they can create chances for themselves."

With the Blues cruising at the top of the Premier League, this somewhat negative tone may appear slightly odd. But, it is a valid point. Chelsea have been great, but their rivals have been poor. As Antonio Conte plans for a Champions League assault next season, he needs a more creatively diverse squad.

Hazard went missing against Liverpool, for example, but Jurgen Klopp’s men were amidst such a poor run that they could not capitalise. Against European competition, the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona would not be so kind.

What do you think of Hazard’s inconsistency. Is it an issue that needs to be resolved via external recruitment? Or can Conte work some coaching magic and get Hazard to that higher level?

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