A Hazard warning, then the early exit
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic launched into one of his most extravagant knee- slides, arms outstretched, with a smug look of satisfaction on his face and Paris Saint-Germain fans summoned a roar of adoration for their talisman.
So what if it was a deflected freekick? Zlatan had made an impact, firing his team into the lead in their most important game of the season to date.
Note to Eden Hazard: this is what they expect from their heroes. It is quite a void to fill. They have grown accustomed to someone who delivers on big nights, who embraces responsibility.
Brilliant as he was last season, Hazard is nowhere near this level. Not at the moment. And when Jose Mourinho tried to cajole him towards the status of superstardom it seemed to have the opposite effect.
His pre-match comments did nothing to endear him to Chelsea supporters and another tepid display in an underwhelming season will not win back hearts.
He was not awful. He was not the reason Guus Hiddink’s team lost. He kept his shape, tracked back and linked up play. But he made little creative impact and at times looked plain bored before he limped off as if still troubled by the dodgy hip issue.
It would be ‘hard to say no’ to PSG, a team maturing into a Champions League force, the Belgian said this week. He clearly still values his profile in France where he emerged from the youth ranks at Lille. Hazard, however, has downed tools since winning the title last May, and the occasion in Paris did not rekindle the magic.
Opportunities were limited, in fairness. PSG dominated and Mourinho would have been proud of Hazard’s willingness to track back.
There was a key interception and a pass to Diego Costa, but 20 minutes had passed before Chelsea enjoyed any serious possession and Hazard suffered.
He flickered when they came to life midway through the first half, pushing short passes, carrying the ball, but he did not trouble Marquinhos, a centre half deputising at full back.
After Zlatan’s deflected free kick, Hazard seemed to lose a little heart and frustrations boiled to the surface when passes went astray. Shoulders slumped, he threw down his arms when teammates lost the ball and walked around looking at his feet.
When he was hurt in a collision with Marco Verratti after the break, he climbed slowly to his feet and spent a good few minutes hobbling and flexing joints.
He appeared in a hurry to come off when Oscar stood on the touchline ready to replace him, but took ages to shuffle off the pitch.
HIP trouble has nagged away this season, eating at his fitness and spirit, along with the poor form and frequent criticism from Mourinho. Perhaps he is right to wonder if a change of scenery will be the best for all concerned.
If Paris do move in this summer, offering their silly money — or Real Madrid, for that matter — it may be that Chelsea will find it hardest to say no. They paid £32million for Hazard when they were European champions, seem unlikely to be back in the competition next season and can expect a decent profit despite the invisibility act and disappearing goals.
This feels like the right time for a makeover: a new manager, a new captain.
Big money for Hazard can help fund it. There is little point forcing him to honour the contract if his heart is elsewhere. Last night, at times, it seemed as if it might be.
Designing an ‘Edxit’ strategy might not be such an outrageous proposition.