EPL: Hazard Nets Brace Against West Ham As Chelsea Go Third
Eden Hazard’s magnificent double earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Ham on Monday and moved Maurizio Sarri’s men up to third in the Premier League.
Reports continue to link Hazard with a summer move to Real Madrid with the Belgian refusing to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge beyond 2020.
And he underlined once more how much Chelsea will miss their number 10 should he depart for the Spanish capital with a dazzling display, capped by a sensational solo goal to open the scoring.
Hazard collected the ball just inside the West Ham half, but strode forward jinking past three defenders before coolly slotting past Lukasz Fabianski after 24 minutes.
“It was something special,” Hazard told Sky Sports. “I took the ball and then I tried to move forward. In the box it was hard for the defender to challenge me because if he touches me it could be a penalty.
“I was maybe a little lucky with the shot. I wanted to shoot quickly. When I saw the ball in the net I was just so happy. I am small so it is good when I play against tall players as it’s very hard for them to change direction.”
The hosts and Hazard had to wait until stoppage time to secure the three points as this time he controlled inside the box and fired into the far corner for his 19th goal of the season.
Powerless to stop the Belgian captain putting their team to the sword, West Ham fans responded with cries of “Eden Hazard, he’s off to Madrid”. But Hazard, insisted nothing has been decided on his future.
“They are wrong,” he added on the travelling support’s response. “For now I am just focusing on Chelsea until the end of the season.
“I want to finish in the top four and do well in the Europa League. We still have a lot to do and then we will see.”
The victory moves Chelsea two points clear of Tottenham and three ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal in the race for a top-four finish, but both their London rivals and Manchester United — five points back in sixth — now have a game in hand on Sarri’s men.
