GOAL

Jose Mourinho says that Eden Hazard is “by far” the best player in the Premier League and believes there can be no other choice for the winner of the PFA Player of the Year award.

The attacker has enjoyed a superb season for Chelsea, with the club set to win the Premier League title, and he has been backed to win the individual award by his coach

The likes of Tottenham striker Harry Kane – who has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season – and Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho have been tipped as potential challengers to Hazard as the season draws to a close.

However, Mourinho has backed the Belgian to beat his competitors to the prize, which was last won by a Chelsea player in 2004-05, when John Terry was rewarded for captaining the Blues to their first league title in 50 years.   

"With what he's doing, speaking in a very honest way, it shouldn't even be a debate," Mourinho told reporters.

"If somebody throws other names on the table, it's because they want to sell papers, to throw sand into people's eyes. This player is by far the best player of this season."

Football doesn't save lives! Mourinho baffled by obsession of society with stars: http://t.co/QIHdrN49sw pic.twitter.com/q4mmlfx97w — beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 10, 2015 Mourinho has also rebuffed the suggestions that the Blues have strolled through the campaign, insisting that this title race has been the most difficult of his managerial career

Chelsea have led the Premier League table since August, and now sit seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal, having played a game less.

But Mourinho said: “No, in England this league is more difficult than the others I’ve played. More teams involved in the title race. First period it was us, United and Arsenal. At this moment, also City and Liverpool and Tottenham.

“The quality of the mid-table teams is also important and more difficult. Has the title race been boring, why? We didn’t dominate.

“It’s more fun when we are champions. That’s the funny moment.”