Can Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain replicate deadly Chelsea duo Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen?
Against Huddersfield on Saturday, Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard linked up well, suggesting a promising partnership was blossoming.At the turn of the Millennium, Chelsea had brought in two new strikers, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen.
4Higuain and Hazard linked well on SaturdayThe pair would go on to enjoy an incredible understanding on and off the pitch and are still held in high regard by Blues fans today. We couldnt look more different a black Dutch guy from Suriname and a blond boy from Iceland but we are quite similar, said Hasselbaink, asked about their partnership.Gudjohnsen agreed: Jimmy and I were different in how we played but very alike in how we thought about the game.For the first time since that combination, Chelsea may have found something similar, an understanding between Higuain and Hazard is only two Premier League matches old, but there is promise and plenty of it.Tougher tests await, Huddersfield turned up to Stamford Bridge, that was all they did, but you still have to perform and face what is in front of you.Higuain got two, so did Hazard. The Belgian was man-of-the match; his colleague was a close second.While nobody was too surprised by the 5-0 score line, it was the combination play between the pair which was most pleasing.
4Hazard celebrates his goal with Higuain“I think that they are really very suitable to play together, close to one another,” Maurizio Sarri said after.“Gonzalo played very close to Eden and I think they can do this. For us that is very useful. It will be useful for Higuain – I think he will be able to score goals for us – and also useful for Eden.”On Saturday, Hazard found Higuain 12 times, the latter returned the favour on nine occasions, it was the most any striker had played to the number 10 in the league this season. Even in the humiliating defeat to Bournemouth, they managed to combine 14 times altogether.Alvaro Morata lost his managers faith, patience wore thin, and he was sent to Atletico Madrid. Olivier Giroud, linked better with Hazard, played the role of target-man, but his lack of goals was always a concern.In recent seasons, Chelsea have always opted for a lone forward; Didier Drogba, Diego Costa, both to great effect. But prior to the arrival of Roman Abramovich, two men occupied that position.
4Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen formed a instant bondGudjohnsen listed Hasselbaink as his favourite strike partner from his career. Having played alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, that admission is testament to the relationship the pair had.The Dutchman, not to be outdone here, at various points in his career played with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Harry Kewell, but never enjoyed the togetherness he had with Gudjohnsen.Gudjohnsen had arrived in west London from First Division Bolton for 4million in 2000, weeks after Hasselbaink, who had previously played in the Premier League with Leeds United, from Atletico Madrid.It quickly became apparent that the pair were stylistically were very different. Gudjohnsen possessed the vision, naturally creative, graceful with a deft touch. Hasselbaink, simpler, bullish with a ruthless streak and ferocious right-foot. Equally potent, one complimented the other.Like Hazard and Higuain against Huddersfield, the two had an almost telepathic concept of where the other would be. An example of this was against Bolton in 2001, Hasselbaink teed up his partner to drill into the corner. The favour was repaid, the finish emphatic.The 2001/02 campaign was their most productive together; 52 goals in all competitions.
4The Chelsea legends are fondly remembered by fansIn spite of this, Claudio Ranieri would slowly break up the partnership which had been so devastating for two seasons, he would rotate between the two men, focusing his side on an ageing Gianfranco Zola. The diminutive Italian would defy the critics, enjoying an Indian summer at Stamford Bridge to help them secure Champions League football.In the years that followed, Abramovich would take over, the Russian billionaire helping Chelsea to the most successful period in its history, with a number of high-profile signings.The arrival of Jose Mourinho would eventually see Hasselbaink depart for Middlesbrough, while Gudjohnsen would play a supportive role, operating in midfield, before securing a move to Barcelona in the summer of 2006.Their compatibility and contributions are still fondly remembered by Chelsea supporters to this very day and it is underestimated the part they played in helping the club become what it now is.Should Hazard and Higuain continue where they left off last weekend, Chelsea could very well have its latest special double act.
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