Eden Hazard’s brace handed Chelsea a big victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night, with the Blues needing to quickly rebound after their shock 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace over the weekend.
The Belgian’s powerful shot took a slight deflection off Vincent Kompany, which was enough to put off Willy Caballero who could not save the shot. Sergio Aguero then pulled one back for the Citizens before Hazard had a penalty saved by Caballero, only to score from the rebound.
The result means that Chelsea have preserved their lead at the top of the table, while City have dropped into fourth place only 4 points ahead of United and Arsenal, who both have a game in hand over Pep Guardiola’s side. Twitter was full of praise for the man of the moment, Eden Hazard.
Eden Hazard’s game by numbers vs. Man City:
4 shots
4 interceptions
3 chances created
3 take-ons
2 goalsMatch winner. pic.twitter.com/jcWz69jnFv
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 5, 2017
Eden Hazard:
Liverpool ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
Man Utd ⚽⚽⚽⚽
Tottenham ⚽⚽⚽⚽
Man City ⚽⚽⚽⚽
Arsenal ⚽⚽⚽Big game player. pic.twitter.com/NB866rJnp5
— Hazard Stuff (@HazardStuff_) April 5, 2017
Hazard sending Stones back to Barnsley pic.twitter.com/aGwfwxoovx
— Ꭻ (@KanteleIe) April 5, 2017
Hazard is the best player in that league, not even close. Kicked to shreds every game, constantly able to make something out of nothing.
— Charlie Skillen (@charlieskillen) April 5, 2017
Hazard back in the race for POTY. Crucial 8 games coming our way.
— Conteholic (@Conteholic) April 5, 2017
Eden Hazard is etching his name into Chelsea folklore with performances like that, in games like this.
— Jamie Wilkinson (@parkedthebus) April 5, 2017
Hazard missed that penalty and scored the rebound so rivals couldn’t say he stat pads. Elite mentality.
— T (@HazardFlicks) April 5, 2017
Eden Hazard deciding the Premier League race for 3 years in a row.
Neymar hasn’t even paid his taxes 3 years in a row.
— #CarefreeDaily ? (@CarefreeDaily) April 5, 2017
Hazard is the best in the league. You can’t deny facts.
— Messiah. (@InvictusIy) April 5, 2017
Hazard is the best big game player in England by miles
— RJ (@finishedclub) April 5, 2017
There was some praise for Pedro as well after the midfielder not only won Chelsea the crucial penalty which sealed the victory but put in a fine, hardworking performance for the Blues as they have come to expect this season.
What a performance from Pedro. Added to the attack when Chelsea pushed for the lead, then put a shift in at RWB when needed.
— RG⁶ (@registability) April 5, 2017
Well played Chelsea. MVP of the day is Pedro- immense game from him. Good game from city as well. Onwards to the next game. #CFC #KTBFFH
— Aditya Devaguptapu (@strangelyhuman) April 5, 2017
Pedro. RT @ChelseaFC: Who was your man of the match tonight? ? #CHEMCI
— Chelsea all day #Cfc (@Unda_one) April 5, 2017
Not the best game from Chelsea but Pedro was phenomenal!
— Aidin Zaini (@AidinZaini) April 5, 2017
Hazard will make the headlines for his two goals. But the man for me was Pedro: so very hard working tonight.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) April 5, 2017
Pedro was taking it to the city tonight, Hazard was driving and Fabregas was spliting the midfield, and Conte is happy…#cfc #family
— ChelseaFC first son! (@jzee4edu) April 5, 2017
Eden Hazard with two goals but what a game from Pedro… World class players. #CFC #CHEMCI
— Francois Piraux (@F8Piraux) April 5, 2017
Antonio Conte’s superb management of the game was also widely praised, along with his season so far. The Italian has had a huge impact on Chelsea and Twitter was quick to point out that he had made a new record as well.
Antonio Conte is the first manager ever to do the league double over a side managed by Pep Guardiola. pic.twitter.com/05FBfCGGVd
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 5, 2017
The rest of the Premier League looking at Conte like ? pic.twitter.com/X85HNmGOM9
— Freebets.co.uk (@freebetscouk) April 5, 2017
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea the first team to do the double over a team managed by Pep Guardiola (Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga). Wow.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2017
Antonio Conte is the name. pic.twitter.com/H8UX12xS1W
— ️ (@AddictedToCFC) April 5, 2017
I beg of you mate, just tell me where you got your hair transplant #ConteStuff pic.twitter.com/P5CCbqYjQm
— Conte Stuff (@Conte_stuff) April 5, 2017
You see what conte is doing to a team that finished 10th last season, and you wonder how some people have accepted mediocrity
— Mr. Jack Robinson (@jackdre02) April 5, 2017
Conte has beaten Mourinho twice and Pep Guardiola twice this season. Boss.
— hash (@hashim0307) April 5, 2017
FULLTIME , CONTE MASTERCLASS AGAIN ??????
— WeAreChelseaFC (@WeAreChelseaFC) April 5, 2017