Manchester United, the league’s chief practitioner of “hack-a-Hazard,” tried to kick Eden Hazard off the park on Sunday. United’s plan failed in the short term but may yet succeed as a long term strategy of forcing creative players to other leagues. Hazard and Chelsea are, hopefully, too smart for that.
Ander Herrera has one of the most punchable faces in the Premier League. Many might rate him as a player, but his penchant for dirty tackles and his deviousness inspire hatred across the league. Chelsea fans loathe him.
If any supporters, perhaps in a moment of quiet introspection, thought perhaps their disdain was harsh or misplaced, there was a moment on Sunday that dispelled any doubts. In the 51st minute, Eden Hazard received a ball on the left with his back to goal with Herrera snapping at his heels. Herrera then stamped on his heel and ankle. The ball was not close and there was no attempt to win it.
Anthony Taylor naturally whistled for a foul and booked the Spaniard. Herrera was aghast upon receiving a yellow card and protested to the referee. Surely Taylor was joking! After all, this was only his first malicious stamp on an opponent today! The referee was not joking, and the whole incident became just another chapter in the odious legend of Ander Herrera.
United’s familiar strategy to kick Hazard out of the game was unsuccessful. The little Belgian is one of the most-fouled players in the Premier League. But, week in and week out, he will still take on opponents and make the difference for Chelsea. After this weekend, many pundits have asked for how much longer.
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It is a fair question. Any player that regularly faces Phil Jones, the human embodiment of a concussion waiting to happen, must ask whether the Premier League payday is worth it. Perhaps it is time for Hazard to leave for the warmer climes and gentler comforts of Spain.
There is a problem with that narrative, however. La Liga has its own fair share of dirty players. Where did Ander Herrera learn to “tackle” and perform his dramedy routine for the referee? At Real Zaragoza and Atletico Bilbao in Spain, of course. Diego Costa fine-tuned his cartoon villain shtick on pitches all over Iberia. How many red cards does Sergio Ramos have now? Any league that allowed Pepe to ply his trade for 10 years is not a playground for delicate attackers.
Spain has more than its fair share of players with leche mala, or “bad milk.” One only has to look at the tackles Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi routinely receive for proof. So, perhaps Hazard should look to return to Ligue 1. France, however, is not exactly for the faint of heart either. After all, a nation recently managed by someone known as le casseur de jambes – “the leg breaker” – is not a soft touch.
Neymar certainly has not found it to be smooth sailing. He boasts a superb goal scoring record, but defenses routinely target him for rough treatment. Against Marseilles, for example, he snapped after a series of fouls and provocations – including the most French thing ever of having baguettes thrown at him – and was sent off for retaliation.
As much as Hazard is kicked and fouled in England, France was worse. Last season, the little Belgian averaged almost three fouls suffered per game, the most in the league. In his last season at Lille, however, he averaged over four fouls suffered per game.
So, if moving leagues is not the solution, what is? Defenses routinely target Hazard because he is the Blues’ danger man. The more players like Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata can step up, the more they force opponents spread their fouls around.
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The most proactive step the club can take to protect Eden Hazard, though, is to sign another attacking dynamo. A talent such as Alexis Sanchez, Julian Draxler, or any other high profile attacker could reduce Hazard’s creative burden and draw attention away from him. A move like that would go a long way in convincing him to remain in west London.