Eden
Hazard hopes Chelsea can "create a bit of trouble" in the minds of Tottenham
players by restoring their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League
on Tuesday.
Chelsea's advantage was cut to four points after defeat to Manchester United
in their last league outing.
But it could be seven again by the time Spurs play Crystal Palace on
Wednesday, if Chelsea beat Southampton tonight at Stamford Bridge, with both
games live on Sky Sports.
And Hazard, who scored on Saturday as Chelsea beat Spurs 4-2 in the
semi-final of the FA Cup, thinks the scheduling could give the leaders a
slight edge.
"We lost to Manchester United but we have more confidence," he said. "We
beat Tottenham and we play before them, so perhaps we can create a bit of
trouble in their minds.
"They are strong and we are strong, so it will be a good fight until the
end."
Cesc Fabregas called Hazard the second-best player in the world, ability
wise, after Chelsea's win over Spurs at Wembley.
But he also says the Belgian needs to be more selfish to become
"unstoppable".
"Fabregas is not the only one to say that to me," said Hazard. "A lot of
people say to me you need to be more selfish, but when I am on the pitch
sometimes I prefer to pass the ball.
"I try game after game to be more selfish. I know it's good for me to score
more goals if I want to reach the level of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I
am working on it."
Reflecting on his future, Hazard, who is a potential target for Real Madrid,
said: "There is no sign of a new contract for the moment. I am focused on
the last month, and we will talk later.
"It's not in my mind now. I have two or three years left. I just want to
finish the season well and we will see afterwards."
Hazard missed out on the PFA Player of the Year award as he was pipped to
the prize by team-mate N'Golo Kante.
"It's fully deserved," said Hazard. "He had a great season with Leicester
and then this season too.
"You know the trophy most times goes to the player who scores some goals or
gets some assists and wins games, but N'Golo changed that. He is not scoring
goals or making many assists, but he does a fantastic job on the pitch. He
deserved to win."
Hazard has been with Chelsea since 2012, and will be one of their
longest-serving players when John Terry leaves at the end of the season.
But he says he does not have ambitions to take over the captain's armband
from Terry, even though he leads the national team.
"I think we have some players who can be more than a captain in this team,"
he said.
"When I talk to you at the national team, I don't know if I am a good
captain, but I am a captain on the pitch. Off the pitch I don't like to talk
a lot, in England I think the captain has to talk and make people ready for
the games. I am not this kind of guy, I can talk with my feet but it's not
my job to talk to everyone.
"I think JT does this, Gary [Cahill], [Cesar] Azpilicueta and even Cesc.
They deserve to be captain."
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