Following the revelation that the club are considering handing Eden Hazard the captaincy, there have been outcries of condemnation on social media.

As every single Chelsea supporter is aware, our Belgian superstar has been linked with a move to Real Madrid throughout the entirety of the summer. With only two years remaining on his current contract – and having displayed a reluctance to commit to a new deal – uncertainty clouds the 27-year-old’s immediate future.

With that in mind, some sections of the Chelsea faithful perceive Hazard as an inappropriate candidate to assume a captain’s responsibilities. Given the unsureness that characterises the number 10’s future, it’s a logical stance to occupy. Others perceive the proposed decision as a feeble attempt to keep Hazard at the club, one that reeks of desperation, sighting the arrival of better players as a method that would convince the Belgian to stay. Some have even questioned Hazard’s suitability for the role, opting to prefer archetypal leaders such as Cahill or Azpilicueta.

This article hopes to establish why entrusting Hazard with the captaincy would represent something more significant than a measly attempt to prolong his Chelsea career, and I firmly believe that Hazard is the most suitable candidate for the role.

Firstly, the uncertainty that surrounds Hazard’s future is somewhat disconcerting, but it shouldn’t evoke panic, just yet. Throughout much of his Chelsea career, Hazard has played in systems that haven’t always catered to his creative influence or allowed the Belgian to express himself to the full extent of his abilities. As is best exemplified by Antonio Conte’s decision to occasionally use Hazard in the false nine position, or Jose Mourinho’s insistence that Hazard fulfils his defensive duties.

Despite this, and except the 2015/16 season (where most players performed at secondary levels) Hazard has consistently proven to be a useful goalscorer. Naturally, we’d all love to see an increase in his attacking output – Eden has yet to reach 20 goals in a single season for Chelsea – but a total of 17,17,6 and 19 goals over the past four seasons is a decent return, especially when his creativity has sometimes been suffocated by regressive systems.

Naturally, a captain requires excellent leadership qualities to command his team, and rally his teammates. A brief google search for the term “Leadership” provides the following definition, “the action of leading a group of people or an organization, or the ability to do this.” While looking at on-field contributions, it’s difficult to find a player that has executed this trait better than Hazard.

From an attacking perspective, he almost single-handedly guided us to the title during the second half of the 2014/15 season, and his influence was unquestionable during the 2016/17 campaign, scoring 16 league goals as we won our fifth Premier League crown.

In terms of reliance, it’s difficult – nigh on impossible – to find another team that’s so dependent on an individual to provide their creative output. Lionel Messi and Barcelona come close, but they have sufficient options to deputise in the magician’s absence. If we require a moment of inspiration, or something to salvage the game, all eyes turn towards Hazard. In my opinion, this is the very epitome of leadership. To be able to perform and continually deliver while subjected to such pressure is a testament to Hazard’s abilities and his credentials as our creative leader. Accordingly, I don’t think it’s reasonable to question the Belgian’s appropriateness for the captaincy.

While many will favour more conventional and more orthodox candidates for the captain’s armband, such as Cahill or Azplicueta, it doesn’t negate Hazard’s adeptness for the role. Both Cahill and Azpilicueta have been tremendous figures for the club, leading the team exemplarily, but their relative significance isn’t of corresponding value to Hazard’s.

Since joining the club in the 2012/13 season, ‘Dave’ has progressed from strength to strength, and has established his status as one of the world’s most consistent and most accomplished defenders. Despite his defensive proficiency, despite his loyalty and his unwavering consistency, he isn’t irreplaceable, unlike a certain Eden Hazard. While Kante does come exceptionally close, no player demonstrates greater influence on the team than the Belgium captain. Correspondingly, he’s a worthy candidate for the treasured armband. While others may scream and bellow, Hazard allows his feet to do the talking.

Furthermore, the club’s decision to appoint Maurizio Sarri, an appointment that contradicts every criterion in the Chelsea managerial profile in the Roman era, is a visible and palpable step to harness and develop the club’s creative stars. Appointing a manager who was devoid of trophy-winning experience, and had only started managing an ‘elite’ league five years ago, was effectively unheard of at this club before the summer.

Subsequently, the appointment of Sarri is a concentrated effort to nurture the creativity and the flair that the likes of Hazard exhibit. Dries Mertens is the prime beneficiary of Sarri’s superb player-development. Before Sarri’s arrival, the Belgian winger had scored 23 goals in 101 appearances, following the Italian’s appointment, the 31-year-old has amassed 67 goals in 135 games – a truly impressive increase. A goal ratio of 0.23 goals per game, which was bettered to almost 0.5 goals per game (one goal every two appearances). For a moment, just imagine how good Hazard could become under Sarri’s management – his output could reach unrivalled heights from the Belgian’s perspective.

Mertens isn’t the only suitable example, reported Chelsea target, Gonzalo Higuain enjoyed the best season of his career under Sarri’s guidance, scoring 38 goals in all competitions in the 2015/16 campaign. Without question, the 59-year-old manager knows how to utilise and enhance his creative stars, and Hazard could finally be ready to advance to the next level – matching the output that the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar have consistently attained.

Before concluding the article, I think it’s vital to address the incessant links with Real Madrid. Unlike Thibaut Courtois, the rumours linking Hazard to the Spanish capital haven’t been self-manufactured. Courtois has continually and repeatedly expressed his desire to move to Madrid; Hazard has not. The latter has merely been reacting to speculation, and has publicly – and frequently – revealed how happy he is to stay at the club. To be able to concentrate and thrive for your club – Hazard created and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final – with the pressure of endless speculation is reflective of the Belgian’s mental durability.

Having considered all of this, I conclude that the decision to give Hazard the captaincy wouldn’t equate to a desperate attempt to retain his services, instead, it would be a public and an unapologetic demonstration of Hazard’s importance to the club; one that cannot be sufficiently stressed!

What are your thoughts? Let us know!