Hazard and Azpilicueta dispute value of FA Cup to Chelsea

Eden Hazard feels FA Cup glory would salvage Chelsea’s season after a disappointing Premier League title defence – not a view shared by team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.

Antonio Conte’s men dropped more points in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham at Stamford Bridge to leave their chances of Champions League qualification seeming increasingly remote.

Chelsea are 10 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with six matches remaining this season and have won only three of 11 in the top flight since the turn of the year.

Trips to Southampton and Burnley are up next for the Blues before they face the struggling Saints in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 22, a date Hazard feels is decisive.

“I hope, for the Chelsea fans and ourselves, that we can achieve something,” Hazard told reporters.

“We still have the FA Cup to play for, so we need to bring this ­trophy to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.”

Happy with the win, well fought boys, onto Wembley! Now it’s time to join the national team  #redtogether #chelseafc pic.twitter.com/rap6CgXfus

— Eden hazard (@hazardeden10) March 19, 2018

However, Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta – who was also involved when Chelsea followed their 2014-15 title with a shambolic 10th-place finish – feels the drop in levels from a team who won 30 out of 38 Premier League games last season has been unacceptable.

“The FA Cup is a massive trophy, with a lot of ­history, but it’s not enough for us,” Azpilicueta told reporters.

“We will try to win it, but the cup will not save our season.

“To get a draw at home in ­another London derby is really frustrating for all of us – and all of the fans. We are not happy.”