"Top four is a hard war. We have 11 games to play till the end of the season. We'll try to take the maximum points"
Monday 4 March 2019 11:25, UK
Eden Hazard says Chelsea must win their final 11 Premier League games if they are to succeed in the "war" for Champions League football next season..
Maurizio Sarri's side have bounced back from their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City with back-to-back Premier League wins against Fulham and Tottenham that puts the Blues in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
Hazard says that, ahead of Sunday's 2-0 win at Fulham, the Blues discussed taking advantage of Tottenham and Arsenal both dropping points in Saturday's north London derby.
"We talked together in the dressing room about Arsenal-Tottenham. Both lost two points," Hazard told Chelsea TV.
"Top four is a hard war, because we're not only four teams, we're six teams.
"Now we have 11 games to play till the end of the season. We'll try to take the maximum points."
The win over Fulham, with goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho, put them two points adrift of fourth spot with a game in-hand on each of their top-four rivals.
"The performance was great and we took three points," Hazard added.
Sixth-placed Chelsea have 56 points, five behind third-placed Spurs, who they beat 2-0 last Wednesday.
Fourth-placed Manchester United are two points better off than the Blues, who trail Arsenal by one point.
Chelsea's next Premier League fixtures are against Wolves, Everton, Cardiff and West Ham, before the trip to title-chasing Liverpool on April 14. Their game in-hand is at home to Brighton.
Sarri's position seemed precarious after the 4-0 loss at Bournemouth, 6-0 defeat at Manchester City and the FA Cup exit to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge which saw his 'Sarri-ball' philosophy derided by home supporters.
Now Chelsea are emboldened. The galvanising effect could be attributed to Kepa Arrizabalaga, who refused to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final with Manchester City with penalties looming.
Sarri thought Kepa was injured, but the world's most expensive goalkeeper - a £71.6m buy from Athletic Bilbao - insisted he could play on. City won the shootout 4-3.
It was initially seen as an act of defiance which undermined Sarri, but the Blues boss seems to be in a stronger position now, after Kepa was fined and dropped for the defeat of Spurs.
Hazard added: "The week was not so easy for him, but he's a great goalkeeper and he's a great guy."
