Chelsea vs Burnley: Antonio Conte tells Eden Hazard to learn from last season after blistering start

Chelsea 3 Burnley 0: Hazard, Willian and Moses all found the net as the Blues continues their 100 per cent start to the new Premier League campaign

Antonio Conte has been encouraged by Eden Hazard's start (Getty)

Antonio Conte has been encouraged by Eden Hazard’s desire to improve as he bids to recuperate the midfielder who was England’s Footballer of the Year in 2015 but performed so miserably last season as Jose Mourinho was sacked and Chelsea slumped to 10th in the Premier League table.

Hazard’s collapse of form, confidence and performance level was one of the biggest talking points in west London last year but his display against Burnley on Saturday, in which he scored an exquisite opener before going on to win man of the match, provided evidence that he is on the way back.

That revival began at the end of the 2015-16 season under temporary manager Guus Hiddink, when he scored his first league goal of the season at Bournemouth in April, and continued at Euro 2016 where despite Belgium’s early exit he produced some eye-catching performances as captain in France.

Now his early-season form under Conte seem to suggest he will soon be back to the levels which also made him PFA Player of the Year in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign 15 months ago – and there is no sign of the sulking demotivated character which so frustrated fans and pundits alike in the dark days of 2015-16.

Conte, who has clearly made a point of rescuing the 25-year-old, said: “Eden is a fantastic player. He has great talent and also I know he’s a good guy. What’s important is that he wants to improve and wants to work very hard to improve himself - and I am pleased about this.

“I want to work with my players to improve them and put them in the best condition to show their talent – and Hazard is one of those. There are others but above all I’m talking about the wingers. We have fantastic wingers who are all very good one v one, it’s important to put them in the best condition and I’m very happy for Eden.”

Watching Hazard in action against Burnley it was hard to even compare him to player who under-achieved so badly last seaosn. He opened the scoring against Burnley after only nine minutes, running unchallenged the way from the half-way line before passing the ball into the far corner of the net the edge of the area, and could have scored two or three more in what was a hugely comfortable victory.

Moses rounded off the win with a late strike (Getty)

“It’s an important time for him,” said Conte. “Last season is the past but it’s important to remember, always, and to keep last season in our minds because when there is difficult situation it’s important to look back and find new strength to go forward.”

Having performed disappointingly last season Chelsea, who therefore have no European football to distract them, have now won four matches in a row under new manager Conte, including three victories in the Premier League and one in the EFL Cup.

“It’s important to start the new season in the right way,” said Conte who dismissed any talk of going the whole season unbeaten.

“After a bad season like last season it’s very difficult to think that. We must go day by day and step by step and to face every game with the right intensity, concentration and focus.”

First priority for Conte going into transfer deadline week remains finding an experienced defender to add to his squad but for Burnley the picture is more complicated. Manager Sean Dyche is desperate for reinforcements, and already has Chelsea reserve striker Patrick Bamford in his sights, but admits finding the right players isn’t easy in the current market.

“We’re looking and we’re certainly active,” he said. “But there's no guarantees. We do need support, we are in the market so let’s see what happens.

“The new tv money has changed the market but that money can only be used immediately if you've got a backer who's going to carry the can for the next three, four or five years. We've got wealthy people on the board but they're not wealthy at the same level as the people here at Chelsea.

“Yes, Leicester won the title last year but Leicester by the way have got people with a few shekels, they've done alright for themselves. We're just not in that market.”