Blues aiming to guzzle six-pack
have been cut to four points if it had lost to Manchester City.
It took a 10th-minute lead when Eden Hazard scored via a deflection off his Belgium teammate Vincent Kompany, who made his first City start since January.
A wayward clearance by home goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — another Belgium international — enabled Sergio Aguero to level for City in the 26th minute.
But Fernandinho’s trip on Pedro gave Hazard a chance to restore Chelsea’s lead from the spot 10 minutes before the break, which he took at the second attempt after Willy Caballero saved his penalty.
Hazard now has 13 goals in all competitions.
“He’s an important player<’ said Conte. “He’s growing in his mentality and I think he’s having a really good season.”
Chelsea became the first team to secure home-andaway wins in the same campaign against a side managed by Pep Guardiola, who has lost six top-flight games for the first time in his coaching career.
Pep talk
last seven or eight games left to get into the Champions League.”
Despite the result, Guardiola professed himself “honored” to be in charge of City’s players and said quality “in the box” was the only difference between the teams.
And in a possible dig at Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who played with six at the back against Chelsea in the FA Cup last month, Guardiola hailed City’s positivity.
“I’m a lucky guy to be the manager of this club and especially these players,” said the Catalan, whose side drew 2-2 at Arsenal last Sunday.
“We played with huge personality and not waiting. I saw many teams play here with six at the back.
“I like to convince our players to play in that way. You can win, you can lose. I will continue to the last day.
“When I’m a spectator, I can see when one team is afraid, just waiting for one action to win the game.
“I don’t like to be reactive. I like my teams to be proactive. I like to have the main role in the game.
“Our performance was 1,000 miles better than the Arsenal game. Much, much better.
“I would have liked to take points, one or three, to be there. But it was not possible. Hopefully next season we’ll be stronger.”