How have Chelsea dealt with the departure of Eden Hazard so far?

Chelsea endured a rollercoaster ride last season but they still managed to conclude the term on a high. Finishing third on the Premier League table was just a bonus. Success in the Europa League was the main deal.

The Blues edged out local rivals, Arsenal, to claim their second Europa League titl. Eden Hazard put up a decisive performance in Baku. The Belgian scored twice and assisted another to grant his side a vital 4-1 victory.

Following that performance, the fans hoped to see more of such displays from the playmaker. But, things didn't go their way as that ended up being the last time they'd see him step onto the pitch with the blue jersey on.

Hazard's exit didn't come as a surprise. His move to Real Madrid was long in the making. The obvious thing, however, was that Chelsea couldn't sign a replacement for the winger after FIFA decided to uphold their transfer ban - which restricts them from signing players for two transfer windows. That made matters worse.

Many doubted Chelsea's readiness for the new term

Losing a player of such importance and failing to replace him raised a lot of doubts over Chelsea's readiness for the new campaign. As a matter of fact, many expected the Blues to suffer immensely in the absence of the playmaker.

Those talks became louder when Frank Lampard's men succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in their Premier League opener. A 1-1 draw with Leicester City followed. After winning just one of their first four Premier League fixtures, it appeared the team was all-set to endure a nightmare outing this season. However, Lampard and his men found a way to turn the corner.

The Blues have embarked on an impressive run ever since. They've been providing great answers to critics. They've won six of their last eight Premier League games and currently sit at the third position on the EPL table with 26 points.

Chelsea haven't been at their best yet in the Champions League. They did come back to draw 4-4 against Ajax but an uninspiring draw against Valencia didn't help their cause. Having said that, they still have a decent chance of making it to the knockout stages.

Tammy Abraham has been a revelation in front of goal

The players have also stepped up their performances. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic are ensuring that Hazard isn't missed with their goalscoring exploits. The two have 15 goals and 4 assists between them this season in the Premier League.

On the same note, Jorginho and Kovacic have also been rejuvenated. Their efforts in the centre of the pitch has helped in providing balance and control to the team while players such as Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori continue to impress at every given opportunity.

While the Blues did lose to Manchester City recently, it was a well-contested game against a better-rounded opponent. A shocking loss against West Ham last weekend didn't help their cause either, but that could be attributed to a lack of energy following a tiring mid-week encounter. In any case, Chelsea still enjoy a 5-point lead for fourth place on the PL table.

The Blues They appear ready to make a statement this season. As it stands, it appears they are finally over the departure of Hazard. That comes as a huge relief to the fans who were left devastated when the Belgian called time on his Chelsea career during the summer.

The cloud of uncertainty that struck Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the term isn't there anymore. Lampard's men are heading towards great things. Hazard's departure is turning out to be a blessing in disguise for the Blues. They are moving steadily; let's wait and see how far they can go.

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