Hat-trick hero Andre Schurrle was quick to pour praise on team-mate Eden Hazard following Chelsea’s 3-1 destruction of Premier League strugglers Fulham at Craven Cottage. The German midfielder doubled his goal tally for the club with a sensational 17 minute hat-trick after half-time, with two of Schurrle’s goals coming after impressive build-up work from Hazard.
The Belgian star played a perfect cross-field ball for the midfielder’s first goal, seven minutes after the break, and tore apart Fulham for a second time when playing in Schurrle for his second on what was Hazard’s 100th appearance for the Blues. The Germany international wrapped up his hat-trick after Fernando Torres got the better of Fulham defender Dan Burn and squared the ball for the 24-year old to score his sixth goal of the season, rewarding the bookmakers who had backed the Blues for a comfortable win.
Speaking after earning the match ball, Schurrle was keen to praise Hazard for his role in his hat-trick, making it clear the three valuable points were more important than his three goals.
“He (Hazard) is a great player and everybody knows that. When we are on the pitch he can take on two or three people and we make a run and he sees us.”
“I’m really happy for the three goals but I’m more than happy for the three points. We are top and we want to stay there. We have to believe we can win this.”
The Blues are four points clear of Liverpool and Arsenal with 10 games left with Manchester City two points further back, albeit with two games in hand. While Jose Mourinho’s men are still the favourites for the title with many Betfair fans, there looks set to be plenty more twists and turns before the end of the season. City, Liverpool and Arsenal are all still very much in the minds of Betfair fans, but Chelsea have put their destiny in their own hands with 10 crucial games remaining. Schurrle continued:
“We have a good young team, everybody grows in this season to be successful. We are top and we want to be stay there. We have to believe we can win this.”
