Chelsea
playmaker Eden Hazard has claimed the Blues are finding life tough as
Premier League champions because 'everyone wants to kill you'.
Jose Mourinho's side are already eight points adrift of leaders Manchester
City after picking up just four points from their first four games.
They have been beaten 3-0 at Manchester City and went down 2-1 at home to
Crystal Palace in their last match before the international break which was
only the second defeat for Mourinho at Stamford Bridge in 100 league games.
It's difficult to play as a champion because everyone wants to beat you,
everyone wants to kill you.
Hazard, the recipient of numerous awards as Chelsea's star last term, is one
of a number of players yet to hit the same performance levels so far this
season, much to Mourinho's dissatisfaction.
The Belgium international told fashion website HypeBeast.com: "It's
difficult to play as a champion because everyone wants to beat you, everyone
wants to kill you.
"We wear the gold badge and... yeah, it's very good. We had a fantastic
season last season... if we could do the same this season we'd be good."
Mourinho labelled Hazard one of the three best players in the world last
term, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Hazard added: "Every day I try to reach a better level. This is my job,
every day I try to score. Every game I try to score.
"I just want to be champion. I just want to be a champion and win everything
like I did last season."
Striker Diego Costa has also struggled to make his mark for Chelsea so far
this season and has scored only once, in the 3-2 victory at West Brom.
After Spain's win in Macedonia on Tuesday, Costa said on as.com: "I've got a
lot to improve and I've got to start scoring goals.
"There will be no lack of effort on my part. I'll keep working hard at my
club to improve."
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