Chelsea has lost Eden Hazard, but the show will go on with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi poised to take center stage.
Eden Hazard’s story at Stamford Bridge has ended. The legacy with the perfect script; Hazard arrived as a teenager, and leaves as the king of Stamford Bridge. He leaves with his head held high and with the respect and support of all Chelsea fans. Despite the loss, Chelsea will go on. A new legacy will be built and a new hero will step up.
Hazard, being Hazard, never disrespected the Blues and maintained that it was an honor for him to be called “a Blue”. He made it crystal clear that he would never play for any other club in England and will always remain indebted to the fans.
The fans knew this was coming and prepared for it. Throughout the season, Hazard has been appreciated by the Chelsea fans continuously and the Premier League in general. He has been loved more than ever before and Chelsea showed a bit of possessiveness towards him.
This transfer, for one, has not been toxic, and has been mutual with the backing of all fans. Chelsea will always love Hazard for what he has done and will forever support him for whatever is to come next in his life.
Hazard will always remain a blue, a name that will always bring a smile to faces. A name that will take fans down the memory lane. A name that will remind of the “Hazard Era”.
Hazard will be tough to replace and will probably leave a void that Chelsea, or any club for that matter, is incapable of filling. But Chelsea never expected such an era or legacy when Hazard arrived. Hazard became the best player in England since Cristiano Ronaldo and repaid Chelsea in uncountable ways.
The departure will inevitably push other Chelsea players to improve and make the club better. Most importantly, it will lead to the rise of a new hero. Every story needs a hero, and Hazard’s departure will symbolize the end of his story and the beginning of someone else’s.
Chelsea has a hole to fill, and there are many candidates who are more than capable of taking over. Someone like Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Callum Hudson-Odoi. Giving them more and more playing time will allow them to grow into their roles and start leading the team.
Loftus and Hudson-Odoi have been at Chelsea since they were kids and know the club inside out. It is their dream to shine in blue. With an empty space in the squad due to Hazard’s departure, this can be the perfect opportunity for Loftus or Hudson-Odoi to step up and truly show their talents.
For once, Chelsea will not have Hazard to rescue them and the players will enter the field knowing it. There might be initial struggles where there seems to be something missing. But truly, this will lead to the emergence of stronger characters. Characters willing to shoulder responsibility and take the weight of the team on their back.
Big players always show up when it counts the most. Loftus and Hudson-Odoi get the chance to do just that and carry their boyhood club through. As cliche as it may sound, “The show must go on”.
As Eden Hazard leaves Stamford Bridge, shed a tear or two but with a smile. The king leaves the throne. But the throne awaits a new king.