That Haz to
ONCE upon a time, Eden Hazard walked off the pitch to snub Jose Mourinho. Last night he simply walked through his team.
The night Hazard decided he was injured and walked off at Leicester despite his manager wanting him to stay on was the lowest point of Mourinho’s second reign at Chelsea.
Three days after that dismal 2-1 defeat last December, the Special One was sacked and Hazard, along with Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, were booed by Chelsea fans in their next game.
Last night at Stamford Bridge Hazard played like a man possessed.
He scored one glorious goal, made another, and when the fourth went in, he raced over to celebrate deliriously with scorer N’Golo Kante and the entire Chelsea team.
This result clearly meant something to Mourinho’s former players. Hazard and Co humiliated their former manager.
United were not just beaten by the most significant display REPORTS saying Mourinho can still get a performance out of Chelsea – just 10 months too late.
Conte has not had an easy ride since arriving and said he would need time to repair the damage of last season – by implication the damage left by Mourinho.
Defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal had raised doubts, but since switching to three at the back it has been three wins, nine goals and none conceded.
It is Roman Abramovich’s 50th birthday today and he will not get a better present.
Beforehand it was all about the return of Jose and also a commemoration of the life of Matthew Harding, the popular vice-chairman who died in a helicopter crash 20 years ago.
After just 30 seconds Marcos Alonso lofted a harmless ball over the top, Chris Smalling left it to Daley Blind but he was asleep and Pedro nipped in to round David De Gea and score.
United should have levelled but Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed over from six yards – and that was as good as it got.
Kante and Nemanja Matic bossed midfield and Victor Moses was again a revelation at wing-back. Mourinho’s team fell apart again as Hazard’s corner was inadvertently flicked on by Antonio Valencia and Gary Cahill slammed home.
Ander Herrera forced a good save out of Thibaut Courtois as United fought to get back into it, but every time Hazard got the ball it was panic stations.
Just after the hour the Belgian fed Kante, who moved the ball on to Matic, and there was Hazard racing on to the return to slide his shot home.
United were now a shambles, and when Pedro flicked the ball on for the galloping Kante to race into the penalty area, the Frenchman emulated Hazard as he dribbled round his defender to shoot home. Humilation complete. Mourinho had never lost a game in England by such a margin. But then as he knows, English football can be a hazardous business.
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Booked: Goals: NEXT UP: MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): Booked: Referee: