Eden Hazard failed to make an impact in Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City (Picture: EPA)

Eden Hazard admits Chelsea did not play to their strengths during Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City and would have been better off playing Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud up front.

Hazard was merely a bystander at the Etihad as City moved 18 points clear in the Premier League title race with a 1-0 win.

The Belgian superstar, who failed to make an impact and was replaced by club-record signing Morata late on, says he felt helpless against City’s centre-halves.

‘I had the feeling that I’d ran, but that I hadn’t played a game of football. That’s a pity,’ he said.




‘We could have played on for three hours, but I wouldn’t touch a ball. It only went better at the end of the game.

‘I’m trying to jump but it’s not easy to win the duels against Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte.

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‘We did not play with our qualities and if Alvaro Morata or Giroud is playing, it’s easier to play with long balls. But I’m trying to do the maximum.’

Following the defeat in Manchester, Chelsea now find themselves five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with nine games of the 2017-18 campaign remaining.

Commentating for Sky Sports, Gary Neville said Chelsea’s display was ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and accused Conte’s players of being ‘mannequins’.

But Conte responded by saying: ‘I think in this moment you have to accept every critic, but I am not so stupid to play against Manchester City open and to lose 3-0 or 4-0.

Bernardo Silva’s second-half goal secured the win for City (Picture: PA)

Chelsea’s dejected players leave the field at the Etihad (Picture: EPA)

‘If I remember well, a few days ago, Arsenal played twice against them and then you criticise a lot [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger because they concede three goals in only 30 minutes.

‘I think that the pundit has to use the head to understand when you speak about tactics because I think that you must have knowledge to speak about tactics and not only to speak in a stupid way.’

Despite Conte’s defence, former Blues manager Ruud Gullit says the match was ‘terrible to watch’ from a Chelsea perspective.

‘It is hard to understand why Antonio Conte did not try to change things around,’ he told BBC Sport.

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‘Conte’s side showed hardly any attacking intent – instead they were just hoping for a City mistake to let them in on a counter-attack, or hoping for someone to produce a moment of genius in front of goal.

‘That is all they had – hope. They never looked like actually making anything happen and I was really disappointed with their performance.’

Chelsea face relegation-battlers Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

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