Mousa Dembele believes Eden Hazard said he wants Leicester to win the title because he is ‘envious’ of Tottenham’s success this season.

The Blues midfielder announced last week that he did not want Spurs to be crowned champions this season, sparking widespread criticism with the Blues still to play both Leicester and their London rivals before the season’s end.

And Dembele, who will line-up against his Belgian compatriot this evening, admits he was surprised by Hazard’s comments.

“I am surprised at what Eden has said,“ said Dembele, according to The Sun. “He is not the type of person to normally make those types of comments or to envy other people’s success.”

“I’m wondering whether he said that stuff because it is what he really thinks, or whether he was just talking for the sake of it,” he added.

“Tottenham play some of the most attractive football in the Premier League — we have a beautiful style of play.

“But I won’t pay too much heed to his comments and those from Cesc Fabregas, who has said similar things.”

“People come up to me in the street and say ‘Did you hear what Hazard said? What’s his problem?’

“I will have a word with Eden before the game, although I will make a joke of it. I won’t conduct a half-hour interview with him.

“I am convinced he didn’t think about what he said.

“It won’t have a bearing on our relationship in the Belgium national side, though.

Chelsea-Tottenham combined XI 13 show all Chelsea-Tottenham combined XI 1/13 Chelsea-Tottenham combined XI: Who makes the cut ahead of Monday night's clash at Stamford Bridge? 2/13 Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris The Frenchman is the glue which holds Tottenham's defence together. The 29-year-old has conceded just 25 goals this season, keeping a total of 13 clean sheets in the process, and claims a place in our side ahead of Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic, both of whom have left Chelsea pining for Petr Cech. 3/13 Right back: Kyle Walker The 25-year-old's performances have been far from flawless, but finally appears to have unlocked the key to consistent performances. Walker is a constant menace in attack and has improved drastically in his own third of the pitch. With Chelsea not boasting a settled right back, it's another victory for Spurs. 4/13 Centre back: Jan Vertonghen Spurs coped well during Vertonghen's absence due to injury but they have looked even more assured now he has returned to the fold. Simply put, the Belgian is a man you would want alongside you in the trenches. The same statement cannot be said of many Chelsea defenders this season, such has been the manner of their decline from the most feared defensive unit in the Premier League to a mid-table outfit. 5/13 Centre back: Toby Alderweireld The Belgian's form this season has been superb. He was deservedly included in the PFA Team of the Season and was perhaps unfortunate not to be nominated for the individual accolade too. His passing repertoire is the best - bar none - among the defenders in the division. And he's got a nose for a goal too. 6/13 Left back: Danny Rose The full back has been a slow burner but has finally flourished under Mauricio Pochettino. Rose has seen off competition from Ben Davies to establish himself as first choice and is better than any of the options at Chelsea's disposal. Even the reliable figure of Cesar Azpilicueta has been surpassed by the Englishman this term. 7/13 Centre midfield: Mousa Dembele The Belgian's powerful, surging runs from deep are crucial in regards to linking defence and attack. Dembele is one of few senior heads in Tottenham's side and is an ideal example to follow. Having extended his contract in January, Dembele is in it for the long haul and helps the north Londoners to compete physically in the centre of the park. 8/13 Centre midfield: Eric Dier The England international began the campaign as Tottenham's third-choice centre back but will finish it as one of the division's leading holding midfielders. Dier's input may not be spectacular but he does the basics extremely well, which is precisely what the likes of Nemanja Matic had to go back to after a poor start to the season. 9/13 Right midfield: Willian The Brazilian has been Chelsea's best player this season and, despite not proving as effective in the No.10 role against Bournemouth last week as he so normally is on the flank, Willian's high work rate coupled with his ability to pressurise opposition defences with his pace and free kicks means he comfortably takes a spot in our team. 10/13 Attacking midfield: Cesc Fabregas The Spaniard was Chelsea's stand-out performer against Bournemouth after creating three of his team's goals, which ensures he now has the third-highest number of assists in the Premier League (95) after Frank Lampard (102) and Ryan Giggs (162). He has slowly but surely returned to form, and therefore deserves a place in our XI with Dele Alli suspended. 11/13 Left midfield: Christian Eriksen The Danish midfielder endured a relatively slow start to the season - and had to adapt to a new position after being pushed out to the left to accommodate Dele Alli.- but has now returned to form. Eden Hazard, meanwhile, scored his first goal of the season last weekend but still has a long way to go before he could potentially be preferred to Eriksen. 12/13 Striker: Harry Kane Diego Costa excelled in the early stages of Guus Hiddink's tenure but still has less than half of Harry Kane's total of 24 Premier League goals this season.. The Spurs golden boy is on course to win the Golden Boot and is fully committed to the club's long-term project, while Costa's future remains in doubt. 13/13 Combined XI in full www.sharemytactics.com 1/13 Chelsea-Tottenham combined XI: Who makes the cut ahead of Monday night's clash at Stamford Bridge? 2/13 Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris The Frenchman is the glue which holds Tottenham's defence together. The 29-year-old has conceded just 25 goals this season, keeping a total of 13 clean sheets in the process, and claims a place in our side ahead of Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic, both of whom have left Chelsea pining for Petr Cech. 3/13 Right back: Kyle Walker The 25-year-old's performances have been far from flawless, but finally appears to have unlocked the key to consistent performances. Walker is a constant menace in attack and has improved drastically in his own third of the pitch. With Chelsea not boasting a settled right back, it's another victory for Spurs. 4/13 Centre back: Jan Vertonghen Spurs coped well during Vertonghen's absence due to injury but they have looked even more assured now he has returned to the fold. Simply put, the Belgian is a man you would want alongside you in the trenches. The same statement cannot be said of many Chelsea defenders this season, such has been the manner of their decline from the most feared defensive unit in the Premier League to a mid-table outfit. 5/13 Centre back: Toby Alderweireld The Belgian's form this season has been superb. He was deservedly included in the PFA Team of the Season and was perhaps unfortunate not to be nominated for the individual accolade too. His passing repertoire is the best - bar none - among the defenders in the division. And he's got a nose for a goal too. 6/13 Left back: Danny Rose The full back has been a slow burner but has finally flourished under Mauricio Pochettino. Rose has seen off competition from Ben Davies to establish himself as first choice and is better than any of the options at Chelsea's disposal. Even the reliable figure of Cesar Azpilicueta has been surpassed by the Englishman this term. 7/13 Centre midfield: Mousa Dembele The Belgian's powerful, surging runs from deep are crucial in regards to linking defence and attack. Dembele is one of few senior heads in Tottenham's side and is an ideal example to follow. Having extended his contract in January, Dembele is in it for the long haul and helps the north Londoners to compete physically in the centre of the park. 8/13 Centre midfield: Eric Dier The England international began the campaign as Tottenham's third-choice centre back but will finish it as one of the division's leading holding midfielders. Dier's input may not be spectacular but he does the basics extremely well, which is precisely what the likes of Nemanja Matic had to go back to after a poor start to the season. 9/13 Right midfield: Willian The Brazilian has been Chelsea's best player this season and, despite not proving as effective in the No.10 role against Bournemouth last week as he so normally is on the flank, Willian's high work rate coupled with his ability to pressurise opposition defences with his pace and free kicks means he comfortably takes a spot in our team. 10/13 Attacking midfield: Cesc Fabregas The Spaniard was Chelsea's stand-out performer against Bournemouth after creating three of his team's goals, which ensures he now has the third-highest number of assists in the Premier League (95) after Frank Lampard (102) and Ryan Giggs (162). He has slowly but surely returned to form, and therefore deserves a place in our XI with Dele Alli suspended. 11/13 Left midfield: Christian Eriksen The Danish midfielder endured a relatively slow start to the season - and had to adapt to a new position after being pushed out to the left to accommodate Dele Alli.- but has now returned to form. Eden Hazard, meanwhile, scored his first goal of the season last weekend but still has a long way to go before he could potentially be preferred to Eriksen. 12/13 Striker: Harry Kane Diego Costa excelled in the early stages of Guus Hiddink's tenure but still has less than half of Harry Kane's total of 24 Premier League goals this season.. The Spurs golden boy is on course to win the Golden Boot and is fully committed to the club's long-term project, while Costa's future remains in doubt. 13/13 Combined XI in full www.sharemytactics.com

Victory for Tottenham tonight at Stamford Bridge will keep them in the title race by closing the gap on the Foxes to five points, while a win for Chelsea would merely bump them up to ninth spot.

Anything less than a win for Spurs will Claudio Ranieri’s side crowned champions.

“He [Hazard} has motivated us well for Monday,” Dembele added. “We want to show Chelsea why we are ahead of them in the table.

“We don’t need motivating in any case for a game against Chelsea.

“We want to finish above them. But I don’t take a malicious pleasure from it - both Eden and myself want to write our own stories rather than focusing on others.”

“The nearer we get to the end of the season the more we can feel that the atmosphere is changing.

“Last Monday I could feel that West Brom preferred us not to win the title as well. It is bizarre.

“Leicester don’t stop winning, and it is frustrating. Had we been offered second, third or even fourth place before the start of the season we’d have signed up for it with both hands.

“But given the way the biggest clubs have failed to rise to the occasion, this has been our chance to win the title.”

