Ross Barkley explains how Chelsea will deal with Eden Hazard's exit this season

Ross Barkley has urged his Chelsea team-mates to step up and fill the void left by Eden Hazard's departure this summer.

After seven years at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian finally made his 'dream' move to Real Madrid a reality, and with it the Blues have a massive gap in their ranks.

Hazard had his best Premier League return last season, with 16 goals and 15 assists, meaning that those left in the Chelsea squad are going to have to pick up those figures in the upcoming campaign.

With the striker situation still not solved ahead of the season, Barkley has stated that the whole team must come together to make up for the exit of their star man.

"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.

Pulisic goal in Chelsea training

"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."

"You have to fill in. Everyone in the squad understands that he was a great player, but he is gone," Barkley said after the 4-3 win at Reading on Sunday.