Eden Hazard Hails Chelsea Youngster Josh Acheampong After Standout Display vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard was back at Stamford Bridge as the Blues kicked off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. While fans voiced disappointment over Chelsea’s lack of cutting edge in attack, Hazard chose to spotlight one positive—19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong.
The academy graduate delivered a mature and commanding performance at the heart of defence, impressing both supporters and the Belgian icon. Speaking after the game, Hazard praised the youngster’s potential:
“19 years of age, still many things to be improved and polished, but he is such a superb defender in the making.”
Hazard’s words highlighted the blend of maturity, discipline, and raw talent Acheampong showed on such a big stage, echoing the belief among many fans that he could be a key figure in Chelsea’s future.
Acheampong’s Impressive Stats vs Crystal Palace
Acheampong’s numbers underline just how dominant he was on his Premier League debut:
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✅ 90 minutes completed
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✅ 81/87 passes completed (93% accuracy)
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✅ 2/2 tackles won
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✅ 4/5 ground duels won
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✅ 5 clearances, 4 recoveries
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✅ 0 fouls committed
For a teenager stepping into Chelsea’s first team, these stats reflect remarkable confidence, discipline, and defensive awareness.
Fans Back Hazard’s Praise
Chelsea supporters quickly took to social media to echo Hazard’s sentiments. Many hailed Acheampong as the club’s standout performer in an otherwise frustrating evening, crediting his composure and defensive intelligence as exactly what Enzo Maresca’s system needs.
While Chelsea’s forwards failed to break through a resilient Palace defence, Acheampong’s assured display at the back ensured the Blues avoided defeat. Fans believe that with consistent minutes under Maresca, the 19-year-old could develop into one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders.
The Bigger Picture for Chelsea
Though the opening day ended in a goalless stalemate, the emergence of Josh Acheampong offers a silver lining. Having a club legend like Hazard endorse his talent only adds weight to the belief that the academy star can become a cornerstone in Chelsea’s defence.
As the Blues continue their Premier League journey, all eyes will be on Acheampong to see if he can build on this strong start and cement his place in the squad. For Chelsea fans, his performance was a timely reminder that the future of the club looks bright, even in a frustrating result.