Saturday 11 April 2015 07:56, UK
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard has been the best player in the Premier League by some distance this season and believes he should be a certainty for the player of the year award.
The Belgium playmaker has enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring 12 goals in 30 matches to help Chelsea amass a seven-point lead at the top of the table with eight games to play ahead of Sunday's clash at QPR.
"I think what he's doing, speaking in a very honest way, it shouldn't even be a debate," Mourinho said.
"If somebody throws other names on the table, it's because he wants to sell papers, wants to throw some sand into people's eyes, because this player (Hazard) is by far the best player in the Premier League all season."
Hazard joined from Lille in a £32m deal in the summer of 2012, and recently signed a new contract until 2021.
He could play alongside an integral member of Chelsea's last title-winning side on Sunday, with Didier Drogba, who has won three Premier League titles, vying with Loic Remy to start in the absence of Diego Costa, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Drogba is out of contract at the end of the season and Mourinho is uncertain what the future holds for the 37-year-old striker who is in his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
"We have a lot of talks to do. I don't know what he wants," Mourinho said.
"I like what he likes. There are people who, during their careers, earn the right and the power to make decisions and not wait for others to make decisions for them.
"What he did at this club for so many years puts him in a great position."
Remy has scored decisive goals in the last two games in wins at Hull and against Stoke and, if he performs well, could keep his place even when Spain international Costa returns after an anticipated four-week absence.
"If, in the next few matches, he performs very, very well, maybe it makes the situation difficult for Diego when he comes back," Mourinho said.
