Hazard picks City, Liverpool as Chelsea's chief title rivals
Eden Hazard believes the league table doesn't lie, and has picked out Manchester City and Liverpool as Chelsea's strongest rivals for the Premier League crown.
The Belgian has been a key element to the Blues' run of seven consecutive wins in the top flight, with the latest victory coming in Saturday's impressive 2-1 fightback against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's recent form sees it top of the division, a point better off than both the Reds and the Citizens, and three points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.
When asked to identify his employer's greatest threat for first place in mid-May, Hazard told Sky Sports: "Man City and Liverpool."
He added: "They are both good. If we want to be there at the end, then we have to finish above them."
After an inconsistent start to Antonio Conte's tenure, the Italian reverting to his favoured 3-4-3 system - one he used when at the helm of Siena, Juventus, and Italy - saw an immediate upturn in fortunes. He implemented it at halftime when Chelsea was 3-0 down to Arsenal in September, and in the subsequent seven-and-a-half outings the Blues have conceded one goal and scored 19 to rise from eighth to first in the table.
Last season's torrid title defence, which saw Chelsea finish in 10th and miss out of qualification for the Champions League and Europa League, was obviously an immediate disappointment, but Hazard is now recognising the benefits from the extra time off.
"It's good. We have one week to prepare for the game and at the end of the week we know what to do when we play," he continued.
"Last year, we were just doing recovery so we weren't always ready for the game, but that's not the case now. We're concentrating on the opposition during the week and give everything.
"We do lots of tactical work and video work, it depends who we're playing. We do everything to be prepared."
Next week Chelsea travels to Manchester City, and Hazard is hoping that Kevin De Bruyne, his teammate for the Belgium national team and an ex-Blues youngster, is off the boil in the Saturday squabble.
"He didn't get his chance here at Chelsea, but did very well in Germany (for VfL Wolfsburg) and since he went to City he's been on fire," said Hazard.
"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!"