Chelsea’s superstar Eden Hazard has named the Blues biggest title rivals for this season and surprisingly the 26-year-old left out the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United from the list.
Hazard said that Manchester City and Liverpool are Chelsea’s only two title rivals.
Eden Hazard didn’t said he thinks that only these two teams have the strength to go toe-to-toe with the in-form Stamford Bridge outfit.
Chelsea are on a 7 match win run and have only conceded one goal in that period – a Christian Erickson blinder in the last game against Tottenham Hotspurs.
The Blues are currently sitting top of the Premier League after 13 games and will travel to Manchester next week to face the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium.
Hazard said that Manchester City and Liverpool are the teams to beat if Chelsea are to win the Premier League title in Antonio Conte’s inaugural season at the club.
“Man City and Liverpool,” he said when asked to name Chelsea’s potential title rivals.
“They are both good. If we want to be there at the end, then we have to finish above them.”
“Next week we go to Man City – a very good opponent. We want to keep going like this. We are full of confidence and want to win every game.”
“We know it’s always difficult to win there,” said Hazard.
“They won at Burnley and they have a lot of good players – Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne. I hope it will be a good game and if we can win there it will be good.”
“Two months ago we went to Arsenal and weren’t ready, but now we know what we have to do. We will give everything and be ready for the game.”
Hazard also spoke about the possibility of facing former Chelsea team-mate Kevin de Bryune.
“I know him well from Belgium and he’s a top player,” he said.
“He didn’t get his chance here at Chelsea, but did very well in Germany and since he went to City he’s been on fire.”
“Sometimes you don’t get the chance to play or the system the manager uses isn’t right for you, but now he’s full of confidence.”
“I hope next week he’ll have less confidence! It’s good for Belgium that two players are fighting for the title in England, but I hope when we go to the national team we don’t fight! We’re good friends.”