Ross Barkley believes Chelsea won’t miss Eden Hazard too much, backing them to fill the void left by the Belgian.
Hazard has undoubtedly been the Blues’ star man over the last four or five years, so his exit to Real Madrid was always going to be a blow.
A new era is now getting underway at Stamford Bridge, however, as club legend Frank Lampard takes charge as manager.
Despite Chelsea having to battle on with a two-window transfer ban handed to them, positivity is still in the air in west London.
Speaking to reporters, Barkley feels the quality is there to make up for the loss of Hazard, as the Blues look to make a flying start under Lampard:
You have to fill in. Everyone in the squad understands he was a great player but he is gone.
He has new challenges now and we have to replace his goals and create the chances. We have that much quality in the squad we will all step up to the plate.
Last season when Eden wasn’t playing we still won games, we still created chances. We know he is an exceptional player but we have exceptional players in the squad.
We have young ones that will step up and produce the goods as well. We have Callum [Hudson-Odoi] coming back from injury and we have signed Christian Pulisic – he is an exceptional talent.
We have wingers who can create from tight positions, players who can shoot from distance and strikers – young and experienced – who are hungry for goals.
Chelsea open their Premier League account with a mouthwatering trip to Manchester United on August 11th.
They also have the UEFA Super Cup to contend with three days later, as they take on Liverpool in Istanbul.
