WIN COMES AT A COSTA
Hazard sinks City but Diego faces ban
CHELSEA took another giant stride towards the title but Diego Costa could face a three-game ban after a bust-up with Vincent Kompany.
The Blues’ bad boy striker kicked out the Manchester City captain in the 70th minute and it could lead to the English FA taking retrospective action.
Referee Mike Dean appeared to miss the incident which left Kompany clutching a knee and leaves Chelsea concerned they may lose their top scorer for the run-in.
The home side did at least regain their grip on the title challenge as Eden Hazard scored twice in the first half to see off City at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard opened the scoring after 10 minutes and then netted again before half-time from a rebound after City keeper Willy Caballero saved his penalty.
That ruined the visitors’ hopes of a fightback after Sergio Aguero had grabbed an equaliser.
It was a huge result for Chelsea because their title rivals Tottenham won at Swansea and Antonio Conte’s men could not afford another slip-up after losing 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Boss Conte said: “It was another big step against a great team. They’ve a lot of qualities.
“We showed we are a great team, to win a difficult game after a defeat against Crystal Palace. It wasn’t easy to reply very well in this way. I’m satisfied but we have to continue.
“We must think that Tottenham could win all their games. We need 18 points to win the title. We are having a great season but to win the title there is a long way to go.”
Conte had demanded a response founded on concentration and discipline. And he got it.
Pep Guardiola on the other hand must be wondering what is the point in having limitless funds and limited goalkeepers. Hazard’s strike for his opener did kiss Kompany’s temple but while Caballero’s reflexes were sharp, his wrists were weak.
It now goes without saying City gaffer Guardiola has to find a new keeper this summer, preferably one whose core strength is not as a playmaker.
Take nothing away from Hazard though. He is a big-game player, never cowed by the occasion, relishing the challenge of quality opposition.
And City, whatever your take on Guardiola’s ideology, are flushed with quality – the sort of quality that doesn’t need a Caballero-type assist. That’s what it got when Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois popped a clearance to David Silva and then beat the shot to the grateful feet of Aguero, who was cupping his ear to Chelsea taunters before accepting the formality.
Courtois cock-up or not, City’s right to be level could hardly be disputed.
Indeed, had Courtois not atoned with a fine block on Leroy Sane, they could have been ahead before Fernandinho blatantly tripped Pedro in the box.
Poor Caballero could not even get a penalty save right, palming a weak kick back into a relieved Hazard’s path.
It was a snapshot of City’s defensive season. This is a team that has, on a regular basis, found new ways to concede.
The ratio of shots against to goals against is presumably about one to one.
That is why Premier League ribbons will be the darker shade of blue come the end of May.
It is also why City face a serious scrap to even secure a Champions League place.
Hazard said: “I don’t know if the way we played was beautiful but the most important thing is to win games at the moment.
“We have eight games to play. We want to finish top. That’s the target. We have to be ready for everything. We are nearly there but there is still a long way to go.”