Monday 24 April 2017 06:53, UK
Chelsea's Eden Hazard can become "unstoppable" and is second only to Lionel Messi in ability, according to team-mate Cesc Fabregas.
The Belgian has rediscovered the scintillating form of Chelsea's last title-winning season, in 2014/15, to fire the Blues to the top of the Premier League and towards a possible double after coming off the bench to help his side beat Tottenham 4-2 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.
The 26-year-old scored Chelsea's third against Spurs for his 15th goal of the season, and Fabregas, who was a team-mate of Messi's at Barcelona, says Hazard can get even better if he becomes more selfish in front of goal.
"Eden can be whatever he wants to be," Fabregas said. "Ability wise, there is only one player above him and we all know who he is: Messi.
"Sometimes when we have a counter attack and it's two against two and he passes the ball, I tell him, 'You have the capability to score by yourself. Do it'.
"He has to do it more often. I've told him many, many times, he needs to be selfish sometimes and have that killer instinct to score more goals. I hope - and I'm sure - he will improve in the future. And then he will be unstoppable."
Chelsea are four points clear of Tottenham and, should they hold on and clinch the title, they can achieve the double for the first time since 2009/10 under Carlo Ancelotti, and in Antonio Conte's first season, with FA Cup final victory over Arsenal on May 27.
"It's something special and it's something very difficult to do," Fabregas said. "Nowadays, especially here in England. Because in Spain you can do it. In Germany you can do it. In Italy. Doing it here would be something special, something to be very proud of. But to be able to do that, first of all we have to work very hard.
"Secondly, sometimes you need a bit of luck. Definitely we need to be very, very consistent until the end of the season.
Fabregas also came off the bench against Spurs, but he says, whether starting or not, the Chelsea squad is united.
"What I like is that we scored the first goal and everyone on the bench was together and celebrating," he added. "[But] coming on to make a difference, to show character, to show hunger to win... we're full of winners and I'm proud to be here."
