Eden Hazard: Chelsea must forget Stoke defeat and move on

Eden Hazard has urged Chelsea to draw a line under their dramatic defeat at Stoke and focus on returning to winning ways next weekend.

Andre Schürrle’s low shot gave the Blues the lead at the Britannia Stadium, but Peter Crouch’s close-range finish drew the home side level before half-time.

Substitute Stephen Ireland then fired the Potters ahead, before Schürrle’s half-volley hauled Jose Mourinho’s men level.

A defeat is a defeat and if we forget that then we concentrate for the future

Eden Hazard

But Oussama Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool, scored a superb late winner to hand Mark Hughes’ men all three points and condemn the west Londoners to their third defeat of the season.

Hazard feels that the responsibility for the loss lies with the team as a whole and no individual player, and stressed the importance of returning to winning ways against Crystal Palace next weekend.

“It is collective I think, not one player particularly,” said Hazard when asked why he thinks the goals were conceded.

“I think all players must be concentrated and try to give their best.

“I thought the first half against Stoke was very good, we scored first and after we conceded a goal from a corner again, we tried to win the game.

“Now we try to forget this game and give the maximum in training for the next games, and try to take three points at home in our next league game. A defeat is a defeat and if we forget that then we concentrate for the future.”