There are many players with huge reputations in the Premier League, some that are justified and some that aren't. There are those, like Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, that drive their side forward, attempting to inspire teammates to follow suit. Others, such as Sanchez's colleague Mesut Ozil, are luminous against lesser opposition but flicker out whenever a real challenge is laid down.

Thankfully for Chelsea, Eden Hazard is from the Sanchez school of thought. In fact, the Belgian positively thrives when the gauntlet is thrown down. The bigger the stage, the better the performance. If it wasn't already clear, it was starkly evident during the 1-0 FA Cup win over Manchester United on Monday. In a match shown on terrestrial television in the UK to a potential audience of millions, Hazard dominated the narrative in more ways than one.

His threat was considered so great to United's prospects that Jose Mourinho paid him the enormous compliment of having him not only man-marked but felled at every opportunity to disrupt his rhythm. This cynical approach was augmented further by ensuring that the identity of the culprit on each occasion was different with the responsibility for this systematic fouling changing on a rotational basis. It is not a new tactic but it is rarely used, reserved for the genuinely great players that can decide a game in an instant.

But while such naked thuggery might knock him momentarily off his stride, the extra attention is taken as a badge of honour by Hazard, who equates the amount of kicks he receives to how well he is playing. On Monday, the forward proved he meant what he said with a soaring performance and ensured that Mourinho's tactic backfired.

Firstly, aware that there would always be an opposing player in extremely close proximity, Hazard knew that he could burst into open space in an instant with the correct turn and acceleration. He did that several times with one particularly eye-catching occasion almost resulting in a sensational solo goal but for David De Gea's fingertips.

Secondly, Mourinho did not legislate for referee Michal Oliver showing excellent awareness of the situation and employing some extremely intelligent officiating. While the second yellow card received by Ander Herrera might have been soft when considered in isolation, it is made entirely understandable by the fact that it happened just seconds after Oliver had clearly warned United captain Chris Smalling that he would take sanction against further similar challenges on Hazard.

There have been murmurs from Man United fans and some pundits that Hazard went down too easily, but such complaints are made redundant when positioned against such a cynical approach to the game. Instead, Hazard was extremely clever, turning Man United's own tactic to his team's advantage.

The 26-year-old's star turn on Monday was just the latest in a line of excellent recent performances. He had gone through a bit of a lull over the festive period and the first few weeks of the new year but sprang back into life just when his team needed him. An excellent run at Liverpool drew a foul from which David Luiz scored, and Hazard might have scored a winner had he still been on the pitch to convert the late penalty that Diego Costa missed in the 1-1 draw.

A few days later he scored one of the goals of this or any other season when he ran from the halfway line against Arsenal before chipping over Petr Cech in a 3-1 win. Although largely shackled in the 1-1 draw at Burnley, he was prominent as the Blues prevailed 3-1 win over Swansea, his mazy run and cross playing in Costa for the final goal. And then there was that magnificent opener against West Ham when his link-up play with Pedro set up a 2-1 victory over their London rivals.

There have been many parallels drawn between this campaign and 2014-15, when Hazard was named Player of the Year, and another one appears to be emerging. Two years ago, as Mourinho's Chelsea prepared to grind their way towards the title, it was Hazard who was routinely the difference maker, the one who the rest of the team turned to when the going got tough. Although the situation now is slightly less precarious, it is notable how Hazard is once again rising to the occasion as Chelsea negotiate the second half of the season, a period when fatigue and indifferent form can both seep in.

With teammates such as the indefatigable N'Golo Kante, the imposing Thibaut Courtois and the elegantly composed David Luiz all currently playing exceptionally well, it doesn't look like Hazard will have to carry the team on his own this time. Nevertheless, it is tremendously reassuring to know that the most gifted player in the Premier League is hitting such heights as Chelsea close in on a potential Double.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by PHIL LYTHELL

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