Hazard bags two top gongs, Terry receives special prize

LONDON: Chelsea’s stars appeared to have got over their English FA Cup Blues as they celebrated their title-winning campaign at the annual Player of the Year Awards.

Antonio Conte’s English Premier League champions put the weekend’s Wembley disappointment behind them as they got together with some faces from the past for the black tie event at Battersea Evolution on Sunday.

There was double joy for Eden Hazard as he collected both the Goal of the Season and the Supporters Player of the Year prize.

The 26-year-old bagged 17 goals for the Blues but his stunner against Arsenal in February was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch.

Midfield star N’Golo Kante, meanwhile, added yet another accolade to his stunning season as he picked up the Players’ Player of the Year award.

That follows on from the winning the PFA Players’ Player and FWA Footballer of the Year prize.

And the occasion also allowed long-standing captain John Terry to say his goodbyes as he was honoured at the end of the night – with a special guest to present his gong.

Claudio Ranieri, Chelsea’s former boss and a title-winner with Leicester a year ago, was the man to hand a special recognition award to the veteran as he prepares to depart the club after 22 years.

Fresh from their 7-0 win over Liverpool earlier the afternoon, Chelsea’s ladies’ squad were also in the house to watch Karen Carney MBE pick up their Player of the Year award.

Despite missing out on the FA Cup to Arsenal on Saturday, the club still decided to mark a previous winning of the world famous competition.

Steve Clarke, Frank Leboeuf, Scott Minto and Eddie Newton were all part of the Cup-winning side that defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 in 1997.

And they were honoured as the Blues celebrated the 20th anniversary of that triumph.