Eden Hazard: Why Chelsea's Magician Deserves His PFA Player of the Year Award

As the clock struck midnight on Sunday, bringing us into Monday, Eden Hazard could finally reflect on a good day’s work.

In the afternoon he had played in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal, earning a point which took the Blues a step closer to securing the Premier League title, while in the evening he was awarded the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award. All is well in the Belgian’s world right now.

The 24-year-old’s latest personal accolade marked what has been an excellent campaign for the winger on both a personal, and team level. His Chelsea captain John Terry once stated that the PFA award was the "ultimate accolade to be voted for by your fellow professional whom you play against week-in and week-out," and Hazard is sure to have been proud on Sunday evening, beating the likes of Harry Kane and David De Gea to the award.

There are always those left unhappy when the recipient of the title is announced, whoever it is, but there can be few who would be able to logically argue that Hazard is not the most deserving of it this time round.

The Belgian has been immense throughout the campaign, keeping his performances at a consistently excellent level. Lest we forget, he has played the starring role in what is now certain to be a title triumph for Chelsea.

The timing of the award is particularly ironic, coming almost a year to the week that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho criticised Hazard for his performance in Chelsea’s loss against Atletico Madrid, with the Portuguese man claiming Hazard’s inability to track back had played a vital part in their Champions League exit.

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Responding to the Belgian’s own critique of his tactics, Mourinho claimed that he was not surprised: "He's not mentally ready to look to his left-back and leave his life for him. Normally you get these kind of comments from players like him, from players that can't resolve a problem like we had with the first goal."

While it may not have seemed it at the time, such public and chastening criticism of Eden Hazard has turned out to be the making of him, with the PFA award the latest recognition of his abilities. Adding a hard-working ethic to his natural talents has made Hazard even more of a complete player, and the credit for that must go as much to Mourinho as to the player himself.

Under the management of the Special One, Eden Hazard is rapidly rising to the top of the football ladder, fast becoming one of the creme de la creme alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Often we are told that statistics do not tell the full story. But in Eden Hazard’s case, they are indicative of just how brilliant and dominant he has been this year. WhoScored rate him as the best player in the Premier League this season, with the 24-year-old topping their charts in a number of different categories.

In the current campaign, Hazard has created the most chances (88), attempted the most dribbles (254), completed the most dribbles (155) and drawn the most fouls (100).

The last stat is perhaps the most illuminating of them all. Such has been the difficulty opposition sides have had in dealing with the Belgian that they have frequently resorted to illegal measures. A player being fouled 100 times in a campaign is almost unheard of, and Hazard is sure to surpass that figure in the coming weeks.

Add to the above statistics, 13 goals, eight assists and nine man-of-the-match awards, and you have some sort of indication as to just how good Eden Hazard has been this season.

The Guardian’s Barney Ronay this week highlighted the brilliance of the Belgian, aside from the stats: "Perhaps the most intriguing part of his progress this season has been an ability to adapt, to roll with the punches, to soak up a little pain."

Far too often in European football, players, referees and spectators are victims to simulation and the prima donna nature of certain individuals. You will not see Hazard rolling around, looking to get his opposition booked. Instead he gets up and carries on.

Ronay also alludes to the decisive nature of Hazard’s game. This season he has scored or assisted against Arsenal, Tottenham, Southampton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. In doing this he has played a telling role in games against every member of the current top seven. On top of this, seven of his 13 Premier League strikes have come in games where Chelsea either drew, or won by a single goal, once again illustrating his decisive role in most matches.

Thus it is hardly surprising that Hazard’s influence has been officially recognised. Indeed, this PFA award serves as the latest piece of acknowledgement for the winger. It has become commonplace for Hazard to be awarded an individual accolade at the end of a campaign ever since he burst on to the scene with Lille in France.

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At the end of his first full season in Ligue 1 (2008-2009), Hazard was presented with the country’s Young Player of the Year award. Since then he has ended each campaign, with the exception of his first in England, as either the league’s Young Player of the Year or Player of the Year.

With such apparent ability comes the obvious comparisons. Hazard’s rise means it is now common to hear his name being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, unquestionably the two best players in the world right now.

Hazard is very much his own player and one who is a joy to watch, but such comparisons do have their merits. There is something very Messi-esque about the way the Belgian glides past opposition defenders. Equally, he shares Ronaldo’s ability to explode into life from a static position. Indeed only the Real Madrid star can claim to have a more explosive burst of pace than Chelsea’s own magician.

Though it would be premature, and inaccurate, to put Hazard in the same bracket as these two, it is evident that he is well on the way to becoming a world-class individual. This has been acknowledged by Zinedine Zidane, who recently noted the quality of the Belgian. Speaking to fifa.com about his favourite performers, the Frenchman mentioned Ronaldo and Messi, before moving on to Hazard.

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They are fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too. I enjoy everything he does on the pitch. I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he's improving every year. He can still get better too, and I think he's a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.

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While Chelsea will be wary of a Real Madrid coach singing the praises of one of their players, they will also be silently agreeing with his assessment of Hazard’s importance.

The suggestion that Hazard is a "big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table" is right on point. Eden Hazard has had an immense impact on Chelsea’s domestic success this year. When Diego Costa has been injured and when Cesc Fabregas has been slightly off colour, it has been the Belgian who has taken games by the scruff of the neck.

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Whether it be a key run and pass, drawing a foul, scoring a goal or his unnerving ability from the penalty spot, Hazard’s influence and contribution has been massively important for the club.

The PFA Player of the Year award is not just a reward for individual brilliance, something which Hazard has displayed in abundance. It is also an award which highlights the influence of an individual in a successful team. With Chelsea a matter of minutes away from securing the Premier League title, it only seems right that this season’s award goes to the player who has been most impressive and important in these efforts.

However good the likes of Harry Kane and David De Gea have been (and they have been very good), their efforts have not been enough to guide their side to their ultimate aims. Yes, it could be argued that Chelsea were expected to win the title this season, but the fact that it now looks certain to happen should not take away from the contributions of the likes of Eden Hazard.

With a little help from his friends, the Belgian has had a massive say in Chelsea securing this inevitable triumph. For this impact on the team, together with his individual brilliance, evidenced by the statistics, Eden Hazard is the deserving recipient of this season’s PFA Player of the Year award.