Eden Hazard has spoken of the half-time team talk which “kick-started” Chelsea’s home draw against Tottenham Hotspur in May – and ended the visitors’ title dream.
Spurs travelled to Stamford Bridge with their eyes on the Premier League trophy, as they aimed to chase down table-toppers Leicester City.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min struck to give Spurs a 2-0 lead over the then- reigning champions, in a feisty clash between the London rivals.
However, Chelsea bounced back in the second-half to secure a memorable 2-2 draw, with out-of-form duo Gary Cahill and Hazard netting the goals.
The Belgian playmaker’s strike, which came with just seven minutes remaining, sealed an historic first title for Leicester, while providing a reminder of his talent through a trademark cut-in onto his right foot.
Reflecting on that moment, Hazard has revealed that his teammates were desperate to extend their lengthy home unbeaten run against Spurs – as they discussed to great effect during the interval.
The Blues’ No.10 told the Guardian: “That was the best memory of last year because of the rivalry with Tottenham.
“I was on the bench, we were losing 2-0 at the break and had been up against it, and at half-time we were in that dressing-room saying: ‘Lads, it’s 26 years since we last lost to Tottenham here. This isn’t the day that record is going to end.’
“It kick-started us. Gary Cahill scored from a corner, and then my goal… Even a 2-2 draw felt like a victory because it had been such a difficult season, and we knew we had wounded our local rivals in Tottenham.”
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