THE HAZARDOUS AND THE MATA THAT REALLY MATTERS.

As we continue to count down to the super Sunday showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United, a match which will definitely have an impact in determining the destination of the premier league title come may 2013.

We take a look at two players who have really made an impact in Chelsea's style of play and turn them into real contenders and not mere dark horses.

Juan Mata
The 24yr old Spanish world cup and European cup winner had a fantastic last season with Chelsea winning the Uefa champions league and the FA Cup.
 Mata made an instant impact in the premier league following his transfer from Valencia,

He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and he can also play as a winger. Mata's preferred foot is left. He is known for his creativity, acceleration, speed, versatility, and technical ability and is described as a "creative spark". He has also been described as having "a touch of flair" and has earned critical acclaim for his playing style, which has led to the media, fans and player's drawing comparisons to both Spanish international and former Valencia team-mate David Silva and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola

Juan Mata missed all of Chelsea's pre-season games as he was playing for Spain at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, but he returned to play in the Community Shield against Manchester City and was substituted after 74 minutes for Daniel Sturridge. Mata assisted his first goal of the season against Stoke, providing a great flick to Ashley Cole. He scored his first goal of the season in the League Cup third round against Wolves, with the game finishing 6–0 to Chelsea. Four days later he scored his first Premier League goal of the season, assisting Fernando Torres for the opener and then scoring directly from a free-kick in a 2–1 win against Arsenal. Mata scored Chelsea's first and third goal in the Champions League as Chelsea beat Nordsjælland 4-0. He later provided 2 assists in Chelsea's 4-1 rout of Norwich City, sending Eden Hazard through on goal and flicked a delightful ball for Branislav Ivanovic to volley in.
In a London Derby game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on the 20th October, Mata scored twice and provided an assist for Daniel Sturridge in a 4-2 victory for Chelsea and Mata also won a well deserved Barclays Premier League Man Of The Match.
Mata, who played at Euro 2012 and the Olympic Games, has benefited from a rest from international football, even if it stretched a little longer than he would have wanted. The merits of him sitting out the September internationals appeared to be accepted by all parties but Vicente Del Bosque, the Spain manager, omitted him from the fixtures this month. Del Bosque seemed to be making a statement; he would choose when Mata turned up.
The unassuming Mata has let his game to do the talking. His clinical finishes against Tottenham brought him to six goals in five appearances for Chelsea and the seamless manner by which he interchanged with the summer signings Eden Hazard and Oscar in the line behind Fernando Torres overwhelmed Tottenham. Ramires, in a deeper midfield role, also excelled. The Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, is as close as he might ever be to the target of fantasy football.
"We are playing more with the ball [this season] and I think it's more enjoyable for me and the team," said Mata.

• Full Name: Juan Mata
• Squad No: 10
• Position: Forward
• Age: 24
• Birth Date: Apr 28, 1988
• Birth Place: Burgos, Spain
• Height: 1.70m
• Weight: 63 kg 

Strengths: Technically superb, his close control and vision are excellent and he has the ability to beat his man and set up chances.
Weaknesses: Lightweight and lacking power, he is not much help to his defenders and can sometimes drift out of games.Career high: He was named man of the match as Chelsea beat Liverpool in the 2012 FA Cup final, and then added Champions League and Euro 2012 winners' medals in the weeks that followed.Career low: Relegation from the Segunda with Real Madrid's B side left him with little hope of breaking into the first team.Style: Classy, skillful, technical, a creative midfielder with a great eye.Quotes: "He's a player who scores and assists and he can add to any squad in the world.'' Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas.Trivia: A former student of journalism at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, he enjoys playing table-tennis in his spare time.

 

 

Eden Hazard 

The Belgian has really proved that he is worth every single penny paid to secure his signature under the nose of Manchester United and Manchester city.

Eden Hazard has lit up the premier league this season with his pace and skills and that has caused a lot of defenders problems already this season.

He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Hazard is known for his creativity, speed, and technical ability and is described as a "fearless, explosive attacking midfielder who can change the game with a turn of pace or a dribble". He has also been described as "a defender's nightmare" and has earned critical acclaim for his playing style, which has led to the media, coaches, and players drawing comparisons to FIFA World Player of the Year winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Eden Hazard who currently earns £170,000 a week and cost Chelsea a whopping sum of £32m has already become a Stamford bridge favourite, with 5assits and 2goals in just 8 matches.

On 12 August 2012, Hazard made his competitive debut for Chelsea in the 2012 FA Community Shield against Manchester City, which ended in a 3–2 defeat at Villa Park. A week later, he made his league debut against Wigan Athletic. In the contest, Hazard provided the assist for Branislav Ivanović's opening goal and, minutes later, won a penalty, which Frank Lampard converted, earning his side a 2–0 victory. In the team's next fixture against Reading on 22 August, he won another penalty from which Lampard converted. Hazard also assisted on goals by Gary Cahill and Ivanović as Chelsea won 4–2 at Stamford Bridge. Three days later, Hazard scored his first goal as a Chelsea player in the team's league match against Newcastle United after scoring a penalty. Chelsea won the match 2–0. He made his Champions League debut for Chelsea in the team's opening group stage game against Juventus. On 6 October, Hazard scored his second goal for Chelsea in a 4–1 win against Norwich City.

 

      Name:Eden Hazard

Nationality:Belgian

Date of Birth:07/01/1991

Height:170 cm

Weight:56.0 kg

Previous Clubs: Lille

Position:Midfielder

Strengths: A defender's nightmare, Hazard can dribble at pace and, like Lionel Messi, he is 5ft 7in and has a low centre of gravity that helps him breeze past opposition players. He has an eye for the spectacular and has scored some memorable solo efforts.

Weaknesses: Hazard's work-rate has questioned by his club and national team bosses. His strike-rate is also somewhat erratic and, while he creates plenty of goals for others, he must start to score more himself. Career high: Becoming the first non-French player to win the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year Award in 2008-09, before achieving something that the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry never managed by winning it again in 2009-10. Career low: Suffering penalty heartache at the hands of Spain in the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Hazard's Belgium were hosting the tournament but went crashing out in the semi-finals after losing a shootout to a Bojan Krkic-inspired Spain side. Style: A fearless, explosive attacking midfielder who can change the game with a turn of pace or a dribble. Quotes: "Eden is technically gifted and very fast. I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed. He can become a great footballer, he is a star of the future." France legend Zinedine Zidane gives Hazard a ringing endorsement. Trivia: Hazard comes from a football family. His parents, Thierry and Carine, were footballers in Belgium, and his younger brother Thorgan is a Chelsea team-mate.

 

If United are to take anything away from the bridge come Sunday then they must find a way to stop this two.