Last night, Eden Hazard was crowned PFA player of the year, and there are not too many arguing with that decision. Sure, Harry Kane is having an exceptional season and another year may well have won it, and David De Gea's responsible for saving many points for Man United, certainly in the early part of the season. But Hazard has been the standout player on the best team in the league, providing goals and assists, but he also has so many intangible qualities that his fellow professionals have surely noted. On a team so well drilled defensively, there is a need for someone who can take the ball and move the team up the field, he makes everyone on the team better, and Chelsea would not be run away league winners without him.
Early in the season, Jose Mourinho mocked individual awards in relation to the ballon d'or. Speaking about this with British Newspaper, The Telegraph, he said "This kind of trophy is not good for football. This is why I don't care about it. Sometimes it looks like we are looking for stars, people who are more important than others. In some cases, it looks like we are doing a political campaign."
Over the past few weeks Jose Mourinho has appeared to do exactly this, frequently mentioning that he has to win the award, he is the only option. That said, I do agree with him as do most people, but it did seem quite like a campaign, though I don't think anyone is surprised anymore, to hear the Chelsea manager being hypocritical (see comments about 19th century football). And the candid interview with Hazard did for sky sports on the eve of the Arsenal v Chelsea game, also seemed like a well placed piece lobbying.
But Jose Mourinho's contradictions aside, Hazard couldn't be more unlike Mourinho. His ability and skill are there for all to see, he is a shining light playing on a team where pragmatism is king. The way he effortlessly glides past players so gracefully, the changes of speed, the slight body movements that beat a man so easily, sometimes without even touching the ball, are reminiscent of his boyhood idol, Zinedine Zidane. Mourinho's good qualities have also rubbed off on him. When Mourinho came back to Chelsea last season, Hazard was singled out for his lack of defensive effort in the champions league, something his international coach, Marc Wilmots echoed. Hazard has taken this criticism like every pass he receives, perfectly in his stride, and has become the complete player.
Earlier this week Zidane was quoted as saying he thinks Hazard is in that upper echelon, along with Messi and Ronaldo. By some this has been interoperated as Madrid's first overtures for Hazard, the beginning of the courtship. However, having listened to his interview with Sky Sports in full, I get the impression this might be one player they can't tempt away. He comes off as a down to earth young man, who is in no rush to go anywhere. He has a genuine love for the game and this comes through in the interview, but what also comes through is how content he and his family are in England with Chelsea.
When we evaluate who should win these awards, we rarely look at these intangibles. The only incident of note that I can remember involving Hazard, was the cup tie when a ball boy was preventing Chelsea getting the ball back. Hazard did not kick the ball boy, he tried to poke to ball out and it was blown out of proportion. So in a time where social media is everywhere and players are caught smoking, or inhaling so called 'hippy crack', it is refreshing to see a player at the top of his game, behaving impeccably. He is the consummate professional, he loves to play, and as the interview goes on, you see the joy on his face just talking about it. He speaks of how his job does not end on the pitch, signing autographs and mingling with fans is 'part of his job'. No complaints, as he says, he has the best job in the world. He is good at it, and he loves it. This is the kind of man that deserves such awards, low key off the pitch, a dynamo on it.
It is not just his performance level on the pitch which sets him apart from others. He was the most fouled player, both in the premier league, and the champions league this season. I would guess that amount of fouls could have been doubled, were he the kind of player to 'simulate'. Hazard rides challenges like no one else in the game, with the possible exception of Lionel Messi. The ball sticks to his toe like it's being brought to shore on the crest of a wave, players nibbling at his ankles all the while, he has usually been fouled two or three times before he actually goes down. You don't see the imaginary card, you don't see him shouting in a referees face, it's as if every foul drawn is taken as a kind compliment. It might be the only way to stop him.
I agree with the great Zidane, Hazard belongs in that group with Messi and Ronaldo. The only thing holding him back is that he doesn't score the goals that they do. However he is facing tougher opponents week in week out, and is playing on a lower scoring team. However, he is an extremely willing passer, he plays for the good of the team, he will give up a 1-on-1 opportunity to square to a team mate for a certain goal (vs stoke notably). If he develops a more ruthless streak he may well become that kind of goal scorer. However, I think Hazard and Mourinho have one very important quality in common. The desire to win. He certainly has a desire to be the best, and in my opinion, the PFA player of the year will continue on his path, with many more awards surely on the horizon.
Source: DSG
