Eden Hazard’s absence proves that he is Chelsea’s irreplaceable man

Chelsea defeated Stoke on Saturday without Eden Hazard in the lineup. Despite the result, the match showed that Hazard is irreplaceable no matter how many players to compensate for his absence.

Eden Hazard was a late scratch for Saturday’s fixture at Stoke. Reports emerged earlier in the week that he was battling a slight injury, but little official word on his status came from Cobham. The severity of the injury only came public when he did not travel with the team to Stoke on Friday.

Hazard’s absence eliminated Antonio Conte’s usual choice of Willian or Pedro on the right wing. Conte played these two on either side of Diego Costa. Willian had the strongest game of the front line, scoring the opening goal and creating openings and opportunities for the attack.

However, neither player – nor any combination of players – were able to imitate the influence Hazard has an the opposition or the game. For all of Pedro’s energy and Willian’s footwork, Eden Hazard truly is irreplaceable in Chelsea’s squad.

"Hazard is head and shoulders above the rest of the players on the pitch. The way he can find space, he can make those passes and he’s determined to keep the ball at his feet. Pedro and Willian try that, but they are not as refined as he is. – Rayna Sidhu, The Blue Lions"

Diego Costa’s unproductive antics exacerbated Hazard’s absence. Costa spent more time seeking fouls than goals, and nearly allowed himself to walk into a second yellow card for any number of gratuitous first-half offences. Hazard has the ability and craft to take on Costa’s scoring responsibilities on such days. Willian and Pedro, for all their talent, have only enough talent to play for themselves – not compensate for their teammate.

Different combinations of Chelsea players could have filled in a few of the gaps. Cesc Fabregas could have created space with his passes the way Hazard can with his movement. Fabregas could have also delivered the ball to Diego Costa in a variety of positions and angles, limiting Costa’s ability (if not his desire) to create a fiasco.

Michy Batshuayi could have given Chelsea an additional target man up front. Stoke knew exactly what they were facing in Diego Costa, and played their game plan nearly to perfection. Batshuayi would have been a wrinkle in their expectations. While he may have been more vulnerable to Stoke’s (say it with me know) physicality, he would not have been so prone to ill-discipline and the potential for bookings.

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Eden Hazard is one of the few players in the world who can do what he does. Chelsea would have needed much more than three forwards and a playmaking midfielder to compensate for Hazard’s absence. Chelsea deserve full credit for winning a difficult fixture without him. But they must be aware of their shortcomings when he is out of the lineup.