Manager Antonio Conte hails Belgium international's brace and work rate as Chelsea run riot at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night with 5-0 win over Everton to go atop the league table
Antonio Conte
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match against Everton on Saturday. Pic/AFP
London: Antonio Conte hailed Eden Hazard's work rate following his brilliant brace in Chelsea's thumping victory against Everton on Saturday night.
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Chelsea have moved to the top of the Premier League following their emphatic 5-0 win in which Hazard had a hand in all of his side's goals.
Hazard, who has now scored five times in his last four league outings, has been inspirational in the Blues' impressive run of five consecutive victories.
Antonio Conte
Indeed the Belgium international's form is a far cry from last season.
Conte helps Hazard's form
After being crowned the best player in the Premier League in 2015, Hazard appeared to lose his way under former boss Jose Mourinho, faced accusations of being unfit, and had to wait until April to register his first league strike. "Eden is playing great football, fantastic football and is showing his talent with all of the Chelsea players," Conte said.
"The most important thing I am seeing is that Eden is fantastic with the ball, but he is fantastic without the ball, too. He is working very hard for the team. When the teammates see the strikers with this type of commitment—when they don't have the ball—I am satisfied, pleased and I hope for it to continue, he said. Hazard opened the scoring after 18 minutes at Stamford Bridge before Marcos Alonso scored his first Chelsea goal moments later.
Diego Costa made it three shortly before the interval with Hazard doubling his tally in the second half and Pedro completing the rout by scoring his side's fifth goal after 65 minutes.
'Win is no title warning'
It was a crushing display from an in-form Chelsea side, who have now scored 16 goals without conceding from their last five league matches. "We don't want to send a message to the other teams, but it is important to send a message to ourselves," Conte added.
"I am pleased for my players because It is important to win, but when you win in this way and play good football with the good intensity, with the ball and without the ball, it is great. It is important now that if you look at the title and tonight you can see that you are top of the table. Tomorrow can probably change the situation, but today it was important to win," he said.
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