Our rivals have plenty to fear with Eden Hazard running riot, insists John Terry

 
P94 Chelsea's Eden Hazard
Simon Johnson3 April 2013

John Terry believes Eden Hazard has struck fear into Chelsea’s opponents and has the talent to ensure the club succeed on all three fronts by the end of the season.

Hazard was Chelsea’s most expensive signing last summer when he joined from Lille for £32million but is starting to prove real value for money.

The Belgium international has been in great form in the past few months to inspire the Blues in their battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League, as well as win the FA Cup and Europa League.

Chelsea take on Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and Terry is confident Hazard will make the difference again.

Terry said: “He has been scoring goals as well as making them. When you come off the pitch and talk to the opposition, they all say, ‘I don’t fancy playing against him every week!’

“He has just got that fear factor about him where he is quick enough to beat someone — he can dribble inside or go outside. He poses a threat throughout the whole game.

“Eden has shown that form coming off the bench as well — he scored goals against Sparta Prague and Manchester United after coming on.”

But the Chelsea captain feels Hazard is just one part of an exciting group of attacking players that he believes have made the team as threatening as when Damien Duff and Arjen Robben were running at defences during their title victories in 2005 and 2006.

Juan Mata and Oscar have also made a huge impact this term and Terry added: “Our creative players give us something extra and they are just different class. In the past, we have had some great playmakers like Robben and Duff, who could both knock the ball past someone and beat them or drift inside with it to score goals from the edge of the box.

“I think the difference with these boys now is that they come in for the ball, they look to link with the striker and then continue their movement into the box. We are now getting more and more bodies in the box, which is great because when we do that, we always see [Frank] Lampard floating behind looking for the pieces or the second ball or cut back.

“As a defender, when you have midfielders and strikers running past you and filling the box, you don’t know where to look.”

Chelsea will end up playing a club record 70 games this season if they reach the Europa League and FA Cup Finals but Terry says they are ready for the challenge.

He added: “This is when the strength and depth of our squad will come into play. We, as players, have to be prepared for what is coming up.

“We are used to competing on several fronts at this stage in the season and if results go the right way when the fixtures are close together like this, it can be fantastic for building momentum.

“If we can put a run together in all competitions, we could be in a couple of finals and finish in a good position in the League.”

But Rafa Benitez has warned his players not to take victory over Rubin Kazan, who are unbeaten in the Europa League, for granted.

He said: “Some people are saying they are not very famous but they knocked out Atletico Madrid and Levante and they were doing very well.

“It’s a tough game to play. People think we will score four goals but I think that will be very difficult. They are very compact, organised, solid and good on the counter-attack.

“They have [Jose] Rondon, who used to play for Malaga, and he is very strong and quick. There is also [Roman] Eremenko and he is a very good player between the lines.

“Maybe it will be difficult here [at Stamford Bridge] and hopefully in the second game we can do well.”

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