Chelsea forward Eden Hazard expects Manchester City and Liverpool to be the London side's main rivals in the Premier League title race after the top three sides all enjoyed victories on the weekend. Chelsea retained their place at the summit after they claimed a seventh successive league victory with a 2-1 home triumph over Tottenham Hotspur and will hope to continue the hot streak when they travel to third-placed City on Saturday. "Man City and Liverpool. They are both good. If we want to be there at the end, then we have to finish above them," Hazard told British media when asked which teams Chelsea will need to be most wary of in the title race. Second-placed Liverpool overcame a stubborn Sunderland 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday, while City rallied for a 2-1 victory at Burnley earlier in the day.
Chelsea, who finished 10th last campaign, are in fine form, having scored 19 goals and conceded just one during their winning run and Hazard admitted the absence of European football had given Antonio Conte's side a vital advantage. "We have one week to prepare for the game and at the end of the week, we know what to do when we play," the 25-year-old Belgian international added. "Last year, we were just doing recovery so we weren't always ready for the game but that's not the case now. We're concentrating on the opposition during the week and give everything. "We do lots of tactical work and video work, it depends who we're playing. We do everything to be prepared."Zinedine Zidane has never sought to make any secret of his admiration for Eden Hazard. The Frenchman has longed to see the Belgian wizard don the white of Real Madrid, having instructed Florentino Pérez to sign him on two occasions.
The first of these came back in the summer of 2011, when Zizou planned on bringing Hazard to the Bernabéu with the help of the pull of Raphäel Varane. Having failed to land his man first time round, Zidane tried again one year later, at a time when it looked to all intents and purposes as if Hazard was set to become a Chelsea player, with the Blues just waiting on Lille to give the final go-ahead. Zidane's appointment has sent the rumour mill into overdrive on the Chelsea forward's future. In the last few days there has been no movement on this front, quite a contrast to the fanfare in the days prior to Mourinho's departure from Stamford Bridge.
Hazard was one of the players singled out by the Portuguese boss, with the latter choosing to leave the 24-year-old speedster on the bench for several important fixtures. There was a breakdown in understanding between coach and player which led the Belgian star to set the wheels in motion on a move away from London, with the Bernabéu featuring top on his list of possible destinations. Indeed, the decision-makers at Real were given the option of opening negotiations to bring Hazard to the Spanish capital, a possibility which was placed, temporarily at least, on the back burner. Even before Mourinho was relieved of his duties at Chelsea, Hazard's mind was made up on seeking pastures new. His intention was, and still remains, to become a Real Madrid player, particularly if he can succeed in making a quick Chelsea exit. This is a player who has lost his appetite for the game, which Guus Hiddink is toiling to help him rediscover. In the meantime, Hazard has set about studying Spanish, preparing himself for all eventualities. The Chelsea man wants to play for Real Madrid, and if Zidane is in charge, the Belgian's desire to grace La Liga is made even greater still.
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