Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has claimed that Chelsea "would be nothing" without Eden Hazard this season.
The Belgian ace has scored 19 goals this season for the Blues, and registered 12 assists in a standout campaign, yet he was not included in the PFA team of the year, much to the surprise of Chelsea supporters and pundits alike.
Shearer was one of those who could not believe he did not make the cut for the team of the year, particularly having been nominated on a six-man shortlist for the PFA player of the year award.
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And the BBC pundit has fired a stark warning to Chelsea about the importance of the Belgian, amid speculation over a potential move to Real Madrid this summer.
“If you are talking about the importance of an individual to a team, that Chelsea team would be nothing without him," Shearer said, speaking on the Premier League Show.
“If they don’t have Hazard next year - with the transfer ban – if he goes to Real Madrid then I would fear for Chelsea because he has been Chelsea I think this season."
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Chelsea have appealed against the club's transfer ban, which was announced in March by FIFA and would see the Blues banned from registering new players for the next two transfer windows, through to January 2020.
However, the appeals committee are yet to announce their response.
Meanwhile, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker was similarly full of praise for the 28-year-old as he likened him to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in terms of his playing style.
And the former Everton, Leicester City and Tottenham striker said Hazard was one of the best when it comes to players in the Premier League that fans want to see.
“When you judge players on how good they are, the element of joy that they bring to the game is very important," he said.
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"He is probably the closest to [Lionel] Messi in style. He is so strong and turns people really quickly, has an electric burst of pace, and he is so tough to play against, but I love watching him play, and that’s ultimately what football is about, watching the players who bring joy to you.”
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