Eden Hazard says his goal to end Tottenham s Premier League title hopes was his best memory of last season.
The 25-year-old scored a superb late equaliser as Chelsea battled to a 2-2 draw at home to Spurs in May, a result which crowned Leicester City champions at the expense of Mauricio Pochettino s side.
That outcome was emphatically celebrated by Chelsea s players and supporters at Stamford Bridge despite a poor season that saw them finish 10th in the table after Guus Hiddink had replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho.
Hazard also had a miserable campaign, with the strike against Spurs one of only four he netted in the top-flight, but he loved the opportunity to hurt Chelsea s rivals.
That was the best memory of last year because of the rivalry with Tottenham, Hazard said to the Guardian.
I was on the bench, we were losing 2-0 at the break and had been up against it, and at half-time we were in that dressing-room saying, Lads, it s 26 years since we last lost to Tottenham here. This isn t the day that record is going to end .
It kick-started us. Gary Cahill scored from a corner, and then my goal.
Even a 2-2 draw felt like a victory because it had been such a difficult season, and we knew we had wounded our local rivals in Tottenham. Leicester were the ones who really enjoyed that night, of course.
Hazard – who scored the goal which won Chelsea the 2015 title under Mourinho – added: So yes, I ve scored the goals that have decided the title in the last two years, but hopefully this season I ll be scoring one to bring the trophy back to Chelsea.
The Belgium international also praised new boss Antonio Conte, although he acknowledged the Italian s successful but demanding style can at times be difficult to cope with.
He kicks every ball, heads every ball, added Hazard. If he could, he d be out there with us, our 12th man on the pitch. You can see he was a player.
It s only now and again, when he s screaming at you to do this or that, demanding you concentrate or work even harder, you find yourself thinking, Hold on a second, we re 4-0 up with five minutes to play. Easy now, boss. Calm down .
But that s the way he is. That s his personality. That s how he works. He expects a lot of us, he s demanding, and he never stops wanting more from his players. But when you re in his side winning matches every week, it s obvious his methods work.
Up to now, under him, we are being rewarded for the work we are putting in.
