Why Stopping Hazard Won't Stop Chelsea

While most eyes have been on Hazard, Chelsea are more than a one man team

After a string of disappointing results Manchester United ended their winless run against Newcastle in the previous match and tomorrow will face their stiffest test as they make the trip to Stamford Bridge to face an in form Chelsea.

To come away with a result will be a monumental task for the Red Devils and in order to do so their number one priority would seem to be nullifying star man Eden Hazard.

The Belgian has been on fire this season and you might make the argument that he's the best player in the league at the moment with his 7 goals and 3 assists so far.

While it is plausible to think stopping Hazard from playing would increase their chances of victory, Manchester United could be making a mistake by being preoccupied with stopping the Belgian.

While the focus has been mainly on Hazard you can't overlook some of the other Chelsea players who've made valuable contributions to the Blues this season. For instance Chelsea's midfield is their biggest strength not just in terms of overall quality, but also in its versatility and how the different components complement one another.

With Jorginho Chelsea have the perfect conduit in turning defence into attack with his accurate passing and vision, and if United do in fact manage to shut down Hazard the Italian will most likely be tasked with keeping things ticking over especially as he'll have the freedom to express himself while United are preoccupied with Chelsea's number 10.

Then there's N'Golo Kanté who's playing a different role in midfield but who's proving to be more effective as he makes his transition from a defensive midfielder into a box-to-box midfielder. Kanté pressing higher up field will make it a harder task for United to play out from the back and they might have to adapt to playing long balls to get forward. This won't be ideal considering United have Pogba and Fred who'd like the ball played to feet.

Ross Barkley/Mattia Kovcic are also talented players who bring plenty to the team and have more than enough ability on their day to cause trouble for the Red Devils.

Another player who can cause trouble for United is Frenchman Olivier Giroud. Say what you will about his goal scoring ability, but you can't deny how effective Giroux has been for Chelsea since making the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Despite having not scored so far this season, Giroud has proven to be a pivotal part of Chelsea's game plan providing four assists for his teammates so far this season. 

It has been his ability to provide good link up play that has allowed others to shine and more attention given to Hazard Saturday could prove to be the day he finally gets off the mark.