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Antonio Conte has figured out how to get the best out of Eden Hazard
As Eden Hazard goes, so do Chelsea. Antonio Conte figured that out pretty quickly into his tenure at Stamford Bridge, and he's gone about making sure his marquee player is fully equipped for success. Conte has built this team to maximize Hazard's strengths, and in doing so, made Chelsea a stronger team overall.
After some experimentation, Conte has settled on a versatile 3-4-3 formation. With hard-working wingbacks and two primarily defensive-minded midfielders in N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic, the system provides both the defensive stability and flexibility he craves in his teams, as well as the important added bonus of allowing Eden Hazard the freedom he needs and deserves in order to be at his most dangerous.
Rather than shackle Hazard to the left side, Conte's given the little Belgian a free role, with the presence of Chelsea's midfield four behind him allowing him the protection to roam at will, finding pockets of space in front of opposition defenses wherever they open up. Against United, Hazard exploited those spaces to devastating effect, dragging United's center-backs with him when he checked deep, causing all kinds of consternation amongst their back four.
With Pedro, or often Willian alongside Hazard and Diego Costa, plus the industry of Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses as wingbacks, Hazard has all the tools around him to be successful. He's got willing runners, defensive cover, as well as the freedom to be at his very best.
It's still early, but so far this season Hazard been back in the kind of form we've come to expect from a player of his undoubted quality. It's a far cry from the lethargic, despondent Hazard we saw for long stretches last year, and it seems clear that he's thriving under Conte's coaching and the system he's implemented.
Conte still hasn't completely figured this Chelsea team out, but the last three Premier League wins are firm evidence that his new system is working for now. Whether the 3-4-3 is their long term future, it remains to be seen. But it's getting the best out of Hazard. And when Hazard is on, Chelsea are on.
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