Dropped Eden Hazard must improve workrate says Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Eden Hazard to improve his defensive workrate after dropping the playmaker for the Premier League champions' 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa.

Hazard, the recipient of numerous player of the year awards last term as Chelsea won the title, began on the substitutes' bench as Diego Costa scored one and forced an Alan Hutton own goal to ease the pressure on Mourinho and pile more on Villa boss Tim Sherwood.

"I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals. We need to defend better," Mourinho said.

"When you don't have the ball, quality means nothing and what means (thumps chest)... you have or you don't have.

"It was just a tactical decision, leaving super quality on the bench, but bringing tactical discipline and hoping that the team could be solid.

"Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work and allowed the (central) midfield players to be very comfortable.

Hazard will be left out until he makes the same defensive contribution as Willian and Pedro.

"I continue that way, or he comes in our direction and tries to replicate the same work that Willian and Pedro did," Mourinho added.

Mourinho addressed his whole squad prior to the match, which was the first since Chelsea lost at home to Southampton on October 3 and prompted the first managerial vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich's 12-year ownership.

"I told the players that this is not the moment to think about themselves, to think about their personal situation, a moment to moan or to try to be selfish in the approach," Mourinho said.

"This is a moment for the team, just the team, and nothing else.

"I have to make decisions to try and bring results back."