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Eden Hazard was a glaring omission from this seasons PFA Team Of The Year. The Belgian has performed fantastically this season with 16 goals and 13 assists in a Chelsea team which has struggled for any consistency at all.
His exclusion has caused furore on social media from some, but has been justified by others. These contrasting views are a perfect indictment of the way Hazard is perceived by football fans, to some he is world class, at the very top of the game in world football. Others, point towards his honours and statistics in an attempt to prove why despite his clear talent, Hazard has hugely underachieved in his career.
But do personal accolades really matter? Especially those awarded by the PFA. Yes, players love to be praised by their peers, but there are underlying suspicions that there are more sinister motives to the PFA vote, as rivalries, friendships and even sponsorships get in the way of a team that is meant to be a true reflection of their form in the Premier League.
Over his Premier League career, Eden Hazard has divided opinion more than most. The Belgian winger has plied his trade at Chelsea since the summer of 2012, when he made the move to Stamford Bridge from Lille for a reported £32m.
Two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, League Cup and a UEFA Europa League are the honours won during his time in London. He has won the affections of Chelsea fans all over the world, he is the key man for the club, the talisman.
Recent seasons have seen him flirt with a move to Real Madrid, with it made pretty clear that both parties are interested, Hazard has run down his contract with it set to expire at the end of next season. It is assumed the Belgian will be on his way this summer as Chelsea look to prevent him leaving on a free transfer and still command a relatively sizeable fee.
The Premier League prides itself on being the best league in the world, the brand is thought to provide the best coverage, the best football, the best players. In order to do this, players like Eden Hazard need to stay in England.
Chelsea fans adore him, he is as charismatic off the pitch as he is on it. His ability to win games has been showcased time and time again whilst his commitment to the club cannot be questioned. The Blues have had a tumultuous few years, with a constant change of management, a recent transfer ban imposed and the owner unable to gain access to the country.
But Chelsea still find themselves in the Europa League semi-finals and very much in the fight for the Champions League places. At the time of writing, they occupy that final spot for Champions League qualification, a point ahead of fifth placed Arsenal and just three points off third placed Tottenham Hotspur. Looking back over the season as a whole, you’d be forgiven for thinking Chelsea had been sneaking points onto their tally whilst nobody was watching.
But they have Eden Hazard to thank for the position they are in, his contribution to goals is the best in the league with 29. This is all whilst the club is in complete disarray, performances have at times been a disgrace from the players, the recruitment in the summer has been seriously questioned as has the tactics and attitudes of those on the field.
From the criticism of Jorginho, to the transfer saga of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kepa Arrizabalaga seemingly defying his managers orders, Chelsea have been an uncomfortable watch for most.
But what makes Hazard so special is that amongst all this drama, chaos and uncomfort he has looked at ease. Playing with the same gleeful freedom we expect from a player at the peak of his powers. His dribbling ability is on occasion mesmerising, making defenders look like fools on the field. His recent goal against West Ham a perfect example of the trickery, agility and intelligence the Belgian possesses.
In an era where statistics seem to mean more than the entertainment value of a player, the blend found in his game is a compromise which some will look at as detrimental to his game. But football is about more than statistics, it is about entertainment, watching an individual do something you deem impossible yourself is half the reason we pay so much to watch them do it.
There are plenty of players in the world who possess flair, plenty who offer more complicated skill moves and tricks than Hazard does, but few do it with such grace, such ease. Watching the forward destroy half the Arsenal team en route to scoring a goal in 2017 was a joy, the way he glided past defenders but also found time to showcase his strength, bouncing French midfielder Francis Coquelin off him and straight into the GIF’s of the millions.
His connection with those who love football for the beautiful game it is wins the hearts too, his joyful smile when playing is broken by that sheer determination to win and improve. Emotions that we all feel when we take to the field ourselves, whatever level of competition.
Hazard may go down as one of Chelsea’s most talented players in the modern era, perhaps in the clubs history. But his personal accolades and trophies will not reflect the true talent he has. There are worse players who have won more with clubs in England than Hazard, but not many will entertain and wow the fans as much as he has in his time in England.
If the Belgian decides the time is right to make that long awaited move to Madrid, Chelsea will lose a fantastic player, the Premier League will lose one too. Despite, the criticism, despite the underwhelming lack of trophies, fans of the Premier League have been lucky to watch Hazard bamboozle, embarrass and sometimes completely destroy defences.
