7 Key Passes, Chelsea star dazzles v City – Not Hazard

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Willian was excellent as Chelsea stunned City at the Etihad.

Eden Hazard will pick up the plaudits, but it was teammate Willian who also stood out as a creative force in the 1-0 win at Manchester City.

The Brazilian’s emergence helped persuade Jose Mourinho that Juan Mata was surplus to requirements at Chelsea, and in the big game at the Etihad he did not disappoint.

Willian created seven goalscoring opportunities, more than another other Chelsea player in the game, and five more than Eden Hazard.

The 25-year-old is in sensational form; the only Premier League game he has made more key passes in was the game a week before at home to West Ham.

In fact four of his ‘most creative’ games have come in his last five matches:

Eden Hazard picked up much of the praise and it’s this standout stat which exemplifies why, his dribbling.

In fact Willian did not complete a single successful dribble, illustrating the contrast between him and Eden Hazard on either flank which makes them such a nightmare for defences to handle.

West Ham’s ’19th Century Football’ showed the way last week, but other teams will not be so lucky.

Now if only Chelsea had a truly world class centre-forward to put away all those chances Willian creates…

image: © Голубович Дмитрий