Why Eden Hazard vs. Mousa Dembele Will Be Key Chelsea vs. Tottenham Battle
Few would have anticipated Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur moving in opposite directions as they have this season. Even the most optimistic of the latter’s fans would have expected any progress to be closely contested by their London rivals.
Similar could also be said of Eden Hazard and Mousa Dembele. The two clubs’ respective Belgian midfielders are set to be key figures in Monday’s derby at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard, the consensus outstanding player of 2014-15, has struggled to replicate the form that inspired Chelsea to the title. At the same time, his international team-mate has bounced back superbly following an inconsistent campaign that had called his Tottenham future into question.
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Few are as representative of the developments that have occurred with their teams in 2015-16 as these two. That is likely to be the case in the outcome of this upcoming fight for capital bragging rights, too.
Theirs is a battle that is as much about who can exert the most influence in their respective fashions over 90 minutes as it is one that will see them directly engage.
With Tottenham missing the suspended Dele Alli, Dembele’s usual central midfield assignment could possibly be changed to a more attacking one.
He has been selected and utilised there sporadically this season. Without Alli’s directness, head coach Mauricio Pochettino could decide Dembele is his side’s best option to lead the charge against Chelsea.
Skilful and difficult to dispossess, in the circumstances, you could understand why Dembele may be considered here. Escapes from tight confines as spellbinding as those seen in last Monday’s draw with West Bromwich Albion would be an appealing weapon against Chelsea. Few of the Blues will fancy Dembele bearing down on them at speed either.
If only it was so simple for Spurs.
Prominently involved in the search for a late winner, Dembele had as much difficulty as anyone breaking down West Brom’s stubborn resistance.
As good as he is identifying possible routes past an opponent, obstacles can quickly make them non-negotiable. Surely up for such a big game, Chelsea will be tough to bypass.
Ultimately, Pochettino will probably decide Dembele would be missed too much further back. That his threat in possession is best deployed directing and helping those attackers a little less important defensively.
With fellow central midfielder Eric Dier a doubt (see above), giving the likes of Hazard even an inch more room to breathe would be risky. It's a choice the Argentinian was punished for making when he rested the England international and Dembele against Borussia Dortmund's also-blessed attacking midfield, losing 3-0 in that Europa League clash.
The last time Hazard faced Tottenham, he was at the forefront of the whole Chelsea attack in one of the final, somewhat desperate strategical acts of Jose Mourinho’s miserable last months in charge.
"Let’s speak about Hazard, fantastic, fantastic match," Mourinho said of the makeshift frontman’s display in November’s 0-0 draw. "If he scores one of these goals and we win, today Eden is phenomenal, so let’s speak about him."
Hazard had indeed gone close on multiple occasions. Unfortunately for him and Chelsea, it was not a sign of things to come.
The 25-year-old did not open his Premier League scoring account until last week’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth—an almost unbelievable fact for a player who netted 14 times last season.
That impressive double—a fine long-range effort and a tidy finish to a patient incursion in from the left wing—should have Hazard raring to go. A desire to deny Tottenham the title (if Leicester City have not already sealed it on Sunday) is also apparently a motivating factor, per BBC Sport.
Dembele will do well to minimise his compatriot’s potential impact.
Hazard was primarily deployed by current boss Guus Hiddink on the flanks against Bournemouth but caused the most problems venturing inside. His interchanges of position with Pedro and Willian flummoxed the ill-prepared Cherries defence (their state of confusion capitalised upon by the excellent Cesc Fabregas and further exacerbated by strong full-back support).
One-on-one, Dembele will fancy himself to stop any who advance into his territory. Few opponents have got the better of the mobile defence protector this season.
However, there is only so much he can do if Chelsea establish a passing rhythm as quick and, at times, note-perfect as seen last weekend. That rhythm is one that could leave the Spurs midfield disconnected, its components isolated.
Hazard’s brace versus Bournemouth was a reminder of how devastating he is when left unchecked, when allowed a couple of yards to run at and beyond an opponent.
Stopping Chelsea's final-third conduit will give Tottenham a good shot at winning their first match at Stamford Bridge since 1990, in the process securing a result that will help cement their place as this season's top London club.
Though he will need help, Dembele could be their best bet to render Hazard ineffectual.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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