Eden Hazard has admitted he was “scared” in the build-up to Chelsea’s crucial victory over Everton on Sunday.
The Blues went into the game at Goodison Park four points clear at the top of the table, but faced an Everton side on a run of eight straight home victories in the League.
Ronald Koeman’s defence kept five clean sheets during that impressive home streak and remained resolute for much of their encounter with the champions-elect.
But Perdro’s stunning strike broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes remaining before further goals from Gary Cahill and Willian made the points safe to briefly move Chelsea seven points clear at the top.
“It was a great game and a great achievement,” Hazard told Chelsea’s official website. “It’s always difficult to go to Everton and play a great game like we did. We controlled it from the start until the end which is good for us.”
“It’s this kind of game where beforehand you can be scared because when they play at home they are very strong and anything can happen, but we dealt with it and we played a fantastic game, we deserved to win.
“Sometimes it’s difficult because the guy is everywhere with me, but when it’s not me somebody else can make the difference, like Pedro did.”
Tottenham beat Arsenal later on Sunday to again close the title gap to four points, but Chelsea now need just nine points to make sure of a second League title in three years.
And a relatively kind run of fixtures, including three home matches against bottom-half sides, mean the Blues are well-placed to achieve that feat.
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