Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been crowned PFA Player of the Year.

The 24-year-old has scored 18 times for the Blues this season to fire Jose Mourinho’s side to within six points of the Premier League title following Sunday’s stalemate with Arsenal.

Hazard said: "I'm very happy. One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well.

"I don't know if I deserve to win but it is good for me. It is good, it is better to be voted by the players - they know everything about football. This is good. I'm very happy.

"We are almost champions, maybe this is the key. Last season we finished third and this season we have an opportunity to win the league. This has changed from last season.

"I continue like I did last season - I try to be the same. I try to score more goals than last season. Personally I have played a good season, I have been there in the big games and I scored a lot of important goals, this is why I'm better this season.

Instructions: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho speaks with Hazard

"I started the season not to be the PFA Player of the Year but it was in my head - I want to be the best and I hope one day I can win a lot of trophies.

"I just want to say thank you to the players who voted for me - it is always good to have an individual trophy but the most important thing is to win the league.

"I hope I can win a lot of trophies again - the most important is to win the league, without my team-mates I would not be here.

"Jose lets me play, we talk sometimes together and when I'm on the pitch I know what I have to do, this is most important."

Hazard picked up the young player award last season but it was Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane who collected that gong on Sunday evening.

The duo were joined in the Premier League team of the year by five of Hazard's Chelsea colleagues as Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa were chosen.

Former Blues favourite Frank Lampard, who left the club at the end of last season, was joint-recipient of the Merit Award with Steven Gerrard.

And South Korean midfielder Ji So-yun made it a memorable night for Chelsea by taking the Women's Player of the Year award.

She added : "I'm really, really happy to be nominated alongside Hazard, I'm really proud of myself and Chelsea, and the Chelsea Ladies team."

Meanwhile, Chelsea have announced they will travel to Australia to play a friendly match against Sydney FC at the ANZ Stadium on June 2.

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