4) No alternatives for Eden Hazard
While Cesc Fabregas is the most important factor in Chelsea’s new style, he is still reliant on the players further forward to actually break through the opposition’s defence. The weight of that attacking onus falls on Hazard, and often in games Chelsea’s strategy seems to just be to get the Belgian winger the ball and let him stretch the opposition.
That’s all when and good when he’s fit, but if he were to suffer an injury, Chelsea have no replacement. Hazard is so good that his team are becoming ever more reliant on his abilities, and in games where he isn’t at his best, like last weekend against Sunderland, they look devoid of aggression in the final third.