Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Eden Hazard to improve his defensive workrate after dropping the playmaker for the Premier League champions' 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa.

Hazard, the recipient of numerous player of the year awards last term as Chelsea won the title, began on the substitutes' bench as Diego Costa scored one and forced an Alan Hutton own goal to ease the pressure on Mourinho.

"I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals. We need to defend better," Mourinho said. "When you don't have the ball, quality means nothing and what means [he thumps his chest] ... you have or you don't have.

"It was just a tactical decision, leaving super quality on the bench, but bringing tactical discipline and hoping that the team could be solid.

"Willian and Pedro did amazing defensive work and allowed the [central] midfield players to be very comfortable."

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