Chelsea star Eden Hazard admits tiredness ahead of Premier League title battle

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has admitted he's tired ahead of the crucial last part of the campaign after Belgium manager Marc Wilmots was forced to replace him during the second half of his national team 1-0 victory over Israel on Tuesday 31 march.

The Belgium forward has started all the 29 Premier League games of the campaign this season under Jose Mourinho, being the third Chelsea player with more minutes – a total of 2.562 - in the competition just behind captain John Terry and right-back Branislav Ivanovic.

Furthermore, the Chelsea ace has also made seven Champions League appearances, six in the League Cup and further one in the FA Cup, coming from the bench in an attempt to rescue his side during the disappointed elimination against Bradford.

Hazard said he wasn't happy about being substituted after just 62 minutes by Tottenham's Nacer Chadli into Belgium's win over Israel but admitted tiredness - due to the number of games played this season at Chelsea - might prevent him from playing his best with his national team.

"I was a little bit surprised to be substituted," Hazard said, according to Daily Mail.

"Also, I was a little bit unhappy and I think you could see that I was unhappy.

"I asked the coach for a reason and he told me that I was tired. Maybe I was a little bit tired. I've played a lot of games this season."

Wilmots himself also explained his decision, as the Belgian needed all the squad as their best to get the three points needed to return to the top of their Euro qualifying group ahead of Wales on goal difference.

"Hazard is not hurt, but I had the impression that he was tired. In these kind of games, you have to react immediately because we did not have time," the manager said.

Anyway, Hazard is expected to be in Mourinho's line-up for the next Premier League game against Stokey City on Saturday 4 April, with the Blues in search of the victory to consolidate their leadership in the table.