Romeo Lavia has credited Eden Hazard with playing a key role in his rapid development into a Chelsea regular this season. The 22-year-old midfielder has featured in every Premier League match for the Blues and believes the club legend's ongoing support has been vital to his progress.

Lavia's importance to the side was clear in the recent 2-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. He provided the assist for Morgan Rogers' opening goal before Cole Palmer added a second from the penalty spot. That victory helped maintain Chelsea's position in fourth place with 16 points from nine games, eight points behind leaders Arsenal. The team's record of five wins, one draw and three losses this season has them firmly in the top four conversation, though they are eight points adrift of the summit.

Lavia's rapid development

His defensive statistics have seen a marked improvement, with his interceptions per 90 minutes rising to 2.91 from 1.19 last season. Tackles have also increased to 3.15 per game, up from 1.91. Lavia has also shown greater athleticism, recording a top speed of 32.7 km/h.

He completed two full matches in four days last week, against Liverpool and Manchester United. This consistent run of form has also led to a recall to the Belgium national team. His performance in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool, where he converted a penalty in a remarkable shootout, preceded the United win.

Lavia says he speaks frequently with Hazard, who helped convince him to join Chelsea from Southampton in 2023. The former winger's pride in his progress provides significant extra motivation for the young midfielder as he aims to build his own legacy at the club.

Chelsea's form and title race context

The win over United extended Chelsea's recent form to three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five outings. This sequence includes a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth, a 2-0 win at Everton, a 2-0 loss to Tottenham, the draw at Liverpool, and the win over United. They have scored 19 goals this season while conceding 15, giving them a goal difference of plus four. The team now looks ahead to a trip to face bottom-placed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 8 November. Chelsea will be aiming to continue their push up the standings with another positive result on the road. The team's attacking efforts have been led this season by João Pedro, who is the club's top scorer with five goals.

This story first appeared at chelseafc.com