Eden Hazard says Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth proved the Premier League leaders won’t crack under the stress of the title race.
Antonio Conte’s side kicked off at Dean Court with their lead at the top cut to four points following Tottenham’s 4-0 thrashing of Watford earlier on Saturday.
But, with the pressure mounting in the closing weeks of the season, Chelsea showed nerves of steel as Adam Smith’s own goal and strikes from Hazard and Marcos Alonso wrapped up a vital win.
Belgium playmaker Hazard admitted it was a huge boost to respond to Tottenham’s statement of intent with their own swaggering display.
“We passed a test. We knew the result of Tottenham before the game and today we deserved to win,” Hazard said.
“It’s more easy to control the game when you score first but at the end of the first half we were a little bit down. But in the second half we did well to control the game.”
Chelsea, now seven points clear of second placed Tottenham, need 15 points from their last seven games to be assured of clinching the title and Hazard called on his teammates to finish the job.
“We have to believe in everything. Now is one step closer to the title and we have seven games left,” Hazard said.
