Jose Mourinho hails Eden Hazard after lacklustre draw in Slovenia
Belgian missed a penalty to win match against Maribor 2-1, but was still best of a bad bunch, says Chelsea manager
Manager Jose Mourinho singled Eden Hazard out for special praise after Chelsea rallied from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Group G rivals Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Premier League leaders, unbeaten in 16 matches in total this season, were lacklustre in the first half and a shock appeared to be on the cards when Agim Ibraimi curled in a brilliant left-foot shot for the Slovenians after 50 minutes.
Unmarked teenager Luka Zahovic almost made it 2-0 when he blazed the ball over the bar from six metres 10 minutes later and that signalled a Hazard-inspired onslaught from Chelsea.
Nemanja Matic tapped in the equaliser after 73 minutes and the Londoners went on to create a series of chances in the closing stages including a rare missed penalty from Hazard after yet another mazy dribble from the Belgium winger.
“For me Eden Hazard was fantastic,” Mourinho said after Chelsea cemented their place at the top of the group with eight points from four matches.