Chelsea ace Eden Hazard 'rediscovers' his passion for football after netting derby equaliser in fiery Tottenham clash

• e-mail

Eden Hazard said he has recovered his passion for the game after scoring Chelsea's stunning equaliser to end Tottenham Hotspur's Barclays Premier League title hopes.

The 25-year-old came on at half-time in the ill-tempered derby and showed glimpses of the form that made him PFA Player of the Year last season when he curled into the top corner to ensure Leicester City became champions.

Hazard, played a key role in Chelsea's title-winning campaign last term, has endured a disappointing season, with injuries and poor form restricting him to just three league goals.

Eden Hazard scored a delightful goal to level the derby with minutes remaining to end Tottenham's title hopes

The Belgian says the derby display has reignited his passion for football after a disappointing season

'Recently, I have rediscovered the pleasure to play,' Hazard told chelseafc.com. 

'When you're injured it's hard to get that pleasure back. I played 45 minutes and I gave my maximum.

'It's been a complicated season for Chelsea and for me. It hasn't been like last season but we have three matches left and we want to finish well by winning all three.'

The Belgian, who will be in action at Euro 2016 next month, said the intense derby atmosphere against Spurs helped inspire him to produce his best display of the season.

'I like matches like that when they're very hard and there is so much rivalry between the two teams. It allows me to find my best form. It's football at its best,' he added.

Chelsea are ninth on 48 points and visit Sunderland and Liverpool before finishing the season at home to champions Leicester, managed by their former coach Claudio Ranieri.

After his goal, Hazard is targeting a 100 per cent record for Chelsea in their final three Premier League games