A section of Chelsea supporters on social media were taken back to the Eden Hazard era by Callum Hudson-Odoi yesterday evening.
Hudson-Odoi started against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last night, aiming to build upon his goalscoring Premier League performance versus Norwich City.
Despite deploying the 20-year-old in attack at home to the Canaries, Thomas Tuchel decided to use him at wing-back on Tuesday.
A position both the player and coach have agreed is not the best position for the former’s development.
Yet, Hudson-Odoi still managed to showboat some skills to the Stamford Bridge crowd that a certain brilliant Belgian used to produce week-on-week.
Hudson-Odoi or Hazard?
There was one particular flurry in the second half where the winger flicked a pass first time into Kai Havertz, spun round his Southampton marker, received the ball back then laid it off to Mateo Kovacic.
A passage of play that Hazard would have been proud of.
And wouldn’t you best believe that a collection of Chelsea fans made such a comparison between the current and ex-Blues forward.
Here’s how they reacted to Hudson-Odoi’s Hazard-esque move on Twitter:
Only one Eden
Of course, no Chelsea follower in their right minds would actually definitively compare Hazard and Hudson-Odoi.
The latter forged an almost unrepeatable legacy whilst wearing blue, that involved a showering of personal accolades, trophies, goals and assists.
Not to mention numerous moments of individual brilliance.
But, for just a moment, Hudson-Odoi really did channel the powers of the iconic number 10.
He certainly has the talents to reach Hazard’s levels, not to mention the timescale in which to do so.
It just depends if the winger can stay fit and in front of Tuchel’s plans for the foreseeable future.