Chelsea's Eden Hazard wanted to 'hurt' Manchester United from kick-off - Garth Crooks

Antonio Conte and Eden Hazard found the right mindset in order to inspire Chelsea to victory over Manchester United, according to Garth Crooks.

Chelsea headed into Sunday's Premier League clash off the back of a woeful 3-0 Champions League defeat away to Roma - a result which saw David Luiz dropped from the squad to face Jose Mourinho's Red Devils at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea were deserved winners against United as Alvaro Morata's stunning header secured a vital victory for the champions to send them nine points behind League leaders Manchester City.

Belgium international Hazard had a strained relationship with Mourinho towards the end of the Portuguese coach's Chelsea career, and former Old Trafford striker Crooks thinks the winger was a changed man when facing United after disappointment in Rome.

"The frosty handshake between Antonio Conte and Mourinho before the game set the tone," Crooks wrote in his BBC Sport column.

"This was always a big game, and the words said beforehand simply added to the tension.

"Chelsea needed that to shake them out of the inertia they were suffering from against Roma in the Champions League in midweek.

"Eden Hazard did his best against Roma but not even he could energise his team. It was a different matter entirely against Manchester United.

"You just know when players are up for it and, from the kick-off, Hazard had every intention of hurting United whenever possible.

"Conte said in his news conference afterwards that his players had played with enthusiasm, commitment and passion.

"Is it any wonder his players approached this game with those very important elements?

"Anyone who saw Conte's reaction to his team's victory was left in no doubt that here is a man who puts himself on the line for his players.

"Whipping up his team and the home support in an almost frenzied manner is precisely what Conte must do to inject the belief they need to be serious contenders to Manchester City, and to have any chance of retaining the title."