04 March,2015 08:27 AM IST | | AFP
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard warns his teammates not to get complacent despite a five-point cushion at the top of the table as they take on West Ham tonight
Chelsea's Eden Hazard during a training session with his teammates at the Cobham Training Centre recently
London: Eden Hazard believes Chelsea's League Cup final success can provide the perfect springboard for the club's Premier League title challenge.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard during a training session with his teammates at the Cobham Training Centre recently. Pic/Getty Images
The league leaders travel to London rivals West Ham today three days after beating Tottenham at Wembley to win the first trophy of manager Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's victory came with the added bonus of having been achieved on the same day second-placed Manchester City lost at Liverpool.
Self-belief
That result means Mourinho's side head to Upton Park five points clear of the chasing pack having played a game less. And Belgium midfielder Hazard claims Chelsea will resume their bid to clinch the championship for the first time since 2010 with the belief that comes from already having lifted silverware. "By winning this trophy, we can concentrate on the league 100 per cent. It's always important to win trophies when playing for Chelsea," Hazard said.
"Before the game we didn't feel pressure or think about the Liverpool-Man City game. Of course when you see the result and that Liverpool won, it is very good for the
confidence. "The season is still long. It is not finished. Manchester City have very good players, they play very well and it will be a war until the end. So it is important for us to keep going, we still have a lot of matches."
The West Ham meeting marks Chelsea's last game before they turn their attention towards the next week's second leg of the Champions League tie with Paris Saint Germain.
Winning momentum
And Hazard is keen to maintain the winning momentum through a decisive period in the club's campaign. "When you play for Chelsea you have to win trophies and get to the semi-final or final of the Champions League," he said.
"We know it's always difficult because there are very good teams in it. The first game against PSG finished 1-1, it was good for us. But the tie is not finished and we need to win. How far can we go? I hope we can get to the final. We will see. First, we must concentrate on out next game against West Ham."
