HAZARD: BLUES ARE BETTER THAN BARCA
EDEN Hazard has delivered a verdict on City that will give them fresh heart for the Champions League challenge.
The Chelsea star fought a lone battle up front on Sunday as City eased to a 1-0 win that put them within touching distance of the Premier League title.
He reprised the role he played in a 3-4-2-1 formation which they also used against Barcelona in the Champions League a fortnight ago – and escaped with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Antonio Conte clearly set out to stifle both Barca and City – and had more success against the Spanish aces.
Asked about the City game, Hazard said: “Against Barcelona we had at least a few chances. In that game we could have scored. Against City we didn’t create any – it was complicated, certainly, to find an answer to their pressing.
“Once we had the ball, we were immediately surrounded by three or four players. We also wasted some simple passes, and we haven’t played a good game.
“When you leave the pitch you have the impression that you’ve ran, but that you haven’t played a game of football. That’s a pity. We could have played on for three hours, and I wouldn’t touch a ball.
“Only at the end it went better: in the last 10 to 15 minutes we had more possession. But we should have tried to do that all game.”
City special: Pages 46-48