According to Leon Balogun, Brighton players were very impressed with Eden Hazard’s masterclass display after the Belgian international put forward after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Amex Stadium.
The Nigerian defender revealed how everyone talked about the Belgian in the dressing room after scoring and assisting a goal to ensure Chelsea won on Sunday.
“He’s unbelievable,” Balogun exclusively told Standard Sport when asked about Hazard.
“We just spoke about it in the dressing room. He’s as quick with the ball as he is without it. His control is magnificent, so it’s very hard to…you cannot control him, really. It’s hard.
“You can get the ball off him if he makes a mistake. Most of the time it’s about delaying him – I think we did very well [with that].”
Hazard was once again deployed by Maurizio Sarri as a ‘false No.9’ after Alvaro Morata had been ruled out of the trip to Brighton with a knee injury.
Hazard expressed reservations about playing up front, which he also did against Manchester City a week earlier, because of the lack of time he has when he has possession of the ball.
Balogun admitted he had thought Hazard’s assist for Pedro’s goal was “a bit lucky” but said it took nothing away from the fact the Chelsea star is a world-class player.
“He assisted one, but even that, it was a bit lucky because he shoots, the ball gets blocked, it comes back to his feet, then he has a little bit of an advantage, but then obviously he knows what to do with it,” Balogun said.
“He’s a world-class player.”