Chelsea Fans Will See the Best of Eden Hazard in 2013-14

Eden Hazard’s debut season at Chelsea carried with it approximately £32 million of expectation. Much had been made of the Belgian’s abilities, and the former Lille player was being courted by Europe’s top clubs. However, through a combination of former Blue Joe Cole and Chelsea’s Champions League triumph in 2012, Hazard chose to move to West London.

On his Premier League debut away at Wigan Athletic he was involved in both of Chelsea’s goals. A terrific turn-and-pass set up Branislav Ivanovic for the opener before Wigan were forced to foul the Belgian in the box, conceding a penalty which Frank Lampard duly converted. This set the tone for things to come, as Hazard racked up one goal and five assists in his first five matches for the club.

As the season progressed, his form began to dip, and when Roberto Di Matteo was sacked in November, Hazard blamed himself. Losing the manager who had brought him to the club just a few short months previously obviously had an impact on the youngster, and frustration began to seep into his game.

A three-match ban for kicking out at a ball-boy in the Capital One Cup semifinal against Swansea City in January was the low point of his season, as he had just begun to regain his form. When he returned, he became instrumental to Chelsea’s progress in the Europa League before a hamstring injury saw him miss the final.

While most players could only dream of having such a successful debut season in a new country, Hazard is hungry for more.

He is excited about working with Jose Mourinho, and the talk of stability will encourage him further. Hazard will also reap the benefits of the return of his compatriot Romelu Lukaku. The pair are close friends, and this relationship will no doubt help Hazard to add to the 20 assists he provided in 2012-13.

Although he has expressed a desire to get his own name on the score sheet more often, most Chelsea fans are excited to see more of the skills that helped to make his first season in blue so successful. The connection that he has forged with Juan Mata and Oscar in such a short space of time will only grow stronger on the preseason tour of Asia, as the Three Amigos face new challenges for their places in Marco van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle.

This competition, added to his natural ability and desire to improve Chelsea’s trophy haul, will ensure that Eden Hazard’s second season in blue is even more successful than the first.