EDEN HAZARD admitted he was merely a bystander as pass-masters Manchester City gave Chelsea the runaround at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s champions-in-waiting racked up a Premier League record 902 successful passes as they moved 18 points clear at the top with a 1-0 win.
Ilkay Gundogan alone notched 167 of those — another Prem high — as the visitors were simply left chasing shadows.
Chelsea dangerman Hazard barely touched the ball as he was left isolated up front on Sunday.
The Belgian said: “When you leave the pitch you have the impression that you’ve ran, but that you haven’t played a game of football. That’s a pity.
“We could have played on for three hours and I wouldn’t touch a ball.”
Antonio Conte’s defending champs did not force City keeper Ederson into a single save — a couple of late efforts off target was all they offered.
The Chelsea boss was in no mood to apologise afterwards, saying the ultra-cautious approach had been his plan.
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He had seen City dismantle Arsenal in a dazzling first half at the Emirates on Thursday and was keen to avoid a similar fate.
In fairness, other managers had tried it at the Etihad this season — notably the renowned tactician Rafa Benitez with Newcastle in January.
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Get men behind the ball, keep your shape and don’t get rolled over . . . then hope for a breakaway late on.
You can understand it with a Newcastle team made up mostly of players who were in the Championship last season.
But Chelsea have world stars who can hurt City — as they proved while doing the double over them last term. Yes, it was just 15 months ago that Conte’s men produced one of the most thrilling displays of counter-attacking football you could imagine.
They soaked up an hour of City pressure, went a goal behind but then hit the hosts three times on the break to leave Guardiola gobsmacked.
Sunday’s game followed a similar pattern early on. But midway through the second half it was very different.
A clip emerged on social media of David Silva and Co passing the ball around just inside the Chelsea half.
Two banks of Blues players stood and watched, making no attempt to close down, until Cesc Fabregas finally put in a half-hearted effort.
It was a puzzling, lifeless display and the travelling fans must have been scratching their heads all the way back down the M6.
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