Eden Hazard believes Chelsea's involvement in the Champions League this season has affected the club's Premier League title defence, but insists the unpredictable nature of the top-flight makes it "special".

Antonio Conte's side stormed to the Premier League title with a record-breaking 30 wins last May in a campaign in which the west Londoners did not have to participate in the Champions League competition.

But the defence of their crown has been hit with obstacles such as a spate of injuries, with Chelsea currently trailing runaway league leaders Manchester City by 19 points.

When the two clubs played each other back in late September, Conte complained that Chelsea had just a day to prepare for the game - which they lost 1-0 - because they had, just three days earlier, travelled to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

And Hazard believes the added pressure of playing in Europe's elite tournament has taken its toll on Chelsea's performances this term, exemplified by their back-to-back losses to Bournemouth and Watford in the past week.

Speaking to ESPN FC at a Nike event in London, Hazard said: "I think the Premier League is difficult.

"It's hard to win every year. Last year we didn't have the Champions League. This year we have less time to be ready for the games. Every week there are three games.

"We changed a couple of things [last summer], we lost players, we brought some new ones and every year is different.

"That's why we love football - if there is only one team that wins it would be boring. That's why football is special. You never know what's going to happen, especially in England."