Eden Hazard expressed relief after Chelsea scraped through to the fourth round of the FA Cup on penalties after a dramatic third-round replay against Norwich at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Hazard struck the decisive penalty after Jamal Lewis’ goal in stoppage time cancelled out Michy Batshuayi’s effort to force extra-time.
Chelsea finished with nine men as Pedro and Alvaro Morata were both sent off, having earned yellow cards for simulation.
‘Today is a replay and with a replay you have to win the game,’ Hazard said after the match on BBC One.
‘With extra-time and penalties it’s not easy, we got two red cards which is the bad thing for today but at least we go through and we are ready for Brighton at the weekend.
‘We can focus on the league and also be ready for the next round against Newcastle.
‘We had chances (to kill off the game) but the FA Cup is always not easy. The first game away was a bad game and also today it was not our best game of the season, but we gave everything at the end of the game when it was nine versus 11.
‘We showed great character after the draw at the end of time so we are happy, but also sad that we lost two players. But we are ready for the next step.’
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