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Eden Hazard is “too good” for Chelsea according to Jermaine Jenas after the Belgian shone in the Blues’ 1-0 loss to Tottenham on Tuesday night.
Harry Kane’s penalty, controversially awarded with the assistance of VAR, was the difference between the sides in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
But despite the loss, Hazard, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid with his contract at Stamford Bridge expiring in 2020, enjoyed a fine game as Maurizio Sarri ‘s side dominated at Wembley.
Jenas was impressed by Hazard and believes he is currently on another level to his team-mates.
“How good has Hazard been tonight? Demanding the ball, going by players,” Jenas said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Show all 23 1 /23Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Paulo Gazzaniga - 7 out of 10 A nervy moment in first-half stoppage time, just about managing to keep out Hudson-Odoi’s deflected cross. Tested from distance but coped with everything thrown at him, and impressed with his command of his area and ability with the ball at his feet.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Kieran Trippier - 7 Solid and stout at right back, initially to Willian who failed to trouble throughout and then to Hudson-Odoi after Pedro’s introduction. Excellent block from Alonso’s volleyed drive late on.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Davinson Sanchez - 6 A booking after going through the back of Hazard but relatively untroubled.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Toby Alderweireld - 7 A lovely lofted pass to free Kane for the penalty incident. Calm and composed leading the defence. Spurs allowed precious little in their box (one lapse to leave Christensen free at the far post aside) and forced Chelsea to take long-range, speculative efforts.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Danny Rose - 8 MOTM. Started very brightly going forward and defended superbly throughout. One firm late tackle particularly eye-catching, even if it appeared to jar his hamstring.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Harry Winks - 5 Struggled with Eden Hazard’s movement, who went past him at will. Not as competent in possession as in most of his recent outings.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Moussa Sissoko - 7 Battled hard throughout with plenty of running and tackling.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Christian Eriksen - 5 Not his best night. For once, the game drifted past him and he failed to seize control of the game as he perhaps could have done as Chelsea dominated the second half.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Dele Alli - 7 Not an outstanding attacking performance, but his defensive work in a deeper role was exemplary during the second half.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Harry Kane - 7 Clever piece of skill to flick over Kepa and draw the foul for the penalty, which he converted confidently.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Son Heung-Min - 6 A less eye-catching performance than those that have lit up the last couple of months, but he threatened in behind at times and offered an outlet.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Kepa - 5 Slow to get out to Kane and a certain penalty against him. Looked laboured in his dive as Kane then converted from the spot.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 Solid, but it is on nights like this where a more influential right-back could offer more going forward.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Antonio Ruediger - 6 Harry Kane failed to impact the game in the Chelsea half aside from the penalty incident, and both Rudiger and Christensen deserve credit for their work in that regard.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Andreas Christensen - 6 On several occasions the man to prevent Son getting away as he has so often in recent games, but an atrocious miss after being left free from his corner. Why didn’t he use his left foot?
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Marcos Alonso - 6 Offered an outlet down the left but Spurs were content to let him have it, with no-one to cross to in a diminutive front three.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings N'golo Kante - 6 Tested Gazzaniga a couple of times with driven efforts and unfortunate that a lovely flick struck the outside of the post.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Jorginho - 6 Jorginho failed to find an incisive ball forward, but was the most controlling presence in midfield as Chelsea dominated second half possession.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Ross Barkley - 6 Virtually anonymous for too much of his 75 minutes on the pitch.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6 Promised much, delivered little. Some development required on his final ball, but there is clearly considerable talent there.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Eden Hazard - 7 Chelsea’s only real threat with vigour and verve, weaving betwixt and between defenders with ease but finding support limited too often.
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Tottenham vs Chelsea: Player ratings Willian - 5 A lacklustre showing that failed to get going, and replaced ahead of the more prominent Hudson-Odoi on 63 minutes.
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“I never thought I would say it, but he’s too good for this Chelsea team.”
Chelsea will hope to claw back the deficit in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, January 24, with Manchester City hosting Burton Albion in the other semi-final first leg tonight.
Sarri will now hope his side can respond in the Premier League, with Newcastle at home this Saturday.
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