As Chelsea prepare for a Sunday afternoon fixture against Southampton, at St Marys’, courtesy of our participation in the Europa League, the build-up to the big game has seen one of the squad come out with a statement that could start a healthy debate.
Appearing in the media vehicle, the Standard, is the suggestion, from Antonio Rudiger, that under the managerial acumen of Maurizio Sarri, Eden Hazard is what can be deemed as the only ‘untouchable’ in the squad.
If that is the case, then it is in stark contrast to the first spell Jose Mourinho had at the club when there were five or six untouchables.
But, is Rudiger correct?
My view is that the German international has hit the nail on the head.
This season, despite seeing any potential move to Real Madrid not materialise, the Belgium international has been in the form of the life.
Even in the first few games of the new Premier League season, when Sarri took his time to integrate Hazard into the starting eleven, after his World Cup exertions, a twenty-minute cameo appearance was enough to earn our jewel-in-the-crown the man-of-the-match award.
Now regular visitors to this site will know that I quite often refer to Hazard as our jewel-in-the-crown, I’ve often wondered just how we’d cope if Hazard were to leave us believing that if the money we received for his sale wasn’t spent well we’d drop to mid-table obscurity.
Perhaps the biggest indication that Hazard is the only ‘untouchable’ is that Sarri chooses to rest Hazard against lesser opponents in fixtures away from the Premier League but doesn’t hesitate to call upon the player when things aren’t quite going right.
But, what is your opinion on Rudiger’s view, has he got it spot on?
Please feel free to air your views in the comments facility beneath this article.