Ben Guest
Eden Hazard has said that Ross Barkley has the potential to go on to become one of the best midfielders in the world after his impressive display against Southampton on Sunday.
The Chelsea midfielder scored one and set up another as the Blues breezed past the Saints to go level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Having made a £15 million move to Stamford Bridge in January, the former Everton midfielder was barely used by Antonio Conte due to injuries and the Italian not really fancying him. However, with Conte’s tenure a thing of the past, Barkley is starting to flourish under the tutelage of new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who has given the 24-year-old 11 appearances this season already.
His performances have drawn plenty of praise from fans and pundits alike, but now this season’s player of the year to date Eden Hazard has joined in, saying he can go on to be one of the best in the world:
“I think Ross, if you give him the freedom to play and the confidence on the pitch that he can be one of the best in the world in midfield,” said Hazard after Sunday’s game.
“He is strong, powerful, can dribble, he is clever, shoot and score. He has everything to be the best. I think he is a fantastic midfielder and if he has the players around him to help him play, then he can be one of the best.”