TLDR: Hector Bellerin has not been amazing every game this season, but his critics are over the top compared to other players, I think it is ridiculous.

I would just like to share my thoughts on Hector Bellerin and how I think that his criticisms are over the top. I do want to start off by saying that I have always really liked Hector and I think his outside interests are brilliant and he uses his status to inspire and create positive things. So, of course what I am about to say will have a bias in favour of Hector, but I don’t think this takes away from the main point.

There is clearly an agenda against him where even when he plays really well, like on Thursday, people still don’t give him the credit he deserves. I get he has his flaws and I don’t think he has really kicked on how we thought he would have. But, I constantly see people just slating him and saying how awful he is and how Cedric is so much better. If Cedric had played as well as Hector did on Thursday, then people would be raving about him and saying how he’s clearly our best right back.

I know that football twitter is not a great way to judge fan opinion because of its pure toxicity and constant negativity. They deal in absolutes and everything is black and white for them, where they don’t see any nuance. But what I have seen on there is just constant slander towards Hector. It is the usual suspects such as one awful toxic personality who you could probably guess, they are always negative about all aspects of his performance, even when he plays well. I get that he hasn’t always been great this season, but I think he is quite low down on our list of possible improvements to make. I think that we need a centre back, back up left back, centre midfielder and possibly winger before we even need to address his future.

There is of course more to the criticism than his performances on the pitch, what he does off it definitely plays a part here. I am always seeing how he apparently ‘needs to focus on his football’ and even homophobic comments made towards him. It is ridiculous, players do all sorts outside their football career, but Hector is constantly under the microscope for this. To be honest, it is disgusting and shows how ignorant some people are, this isn’t just twitter comments by the way, I have seen these things said on multiple different platforms. So I do think it is hard to stop this, but I always wonder how Hector feels about this, you can see his passion for the club and he always gives 100%, but if he checks these awful takes then it must really affect him. Let Hector have his other interests in life, even when its not for you, like his adventurous fashion endeavours. I think it’s brilliant that he’s doing this and we should encourage footballers to follow their other interests in a way where they are not discriminated against or subject to constant criticism. He is a brilliant ambassador for the club and does not deserve the abuse levelled at him. Let people do what they enjoy!

I’m not really sure what I wanted from this post, but I guess its just something I needed to get off my chest. I love Hector, I think he was very good before his big injury and looked to be playing well again before some dodgy performances throughout this season, but the constant negativity towards him is just grim and it really annoys me. Thank you for reading and I would like to hear people’s opinions on this topic. COYG!