Eden Hazard showed little gratitude to Claude Puel as he tormented Saints to help Chelsea to a 2-0 win at St Mary’s.

Puel brought Hazard into the first team and took him under his wing at Lille when the Belgian was just 16-years-old.

Hazard has never forgotten Puel’s impact on his career, but certainly put that to one side as he scored after just six minutes at St Mary’s, and then continued to cause havoc to the Saints defence as Chelsea picked up three points.

Puel said: “I spoke with him after the game and he come back perhaps after last season and it was difficult for him but he come back with a very good level.

“He play with this level and it’s difficult of course.

“I think we can do better on this goal but it’s a very good player like Costa and at the beginning for the first half and the beginning of the second half they didn’t have a lot of chances but sufficient for the players.

“Like Eden or Costa it’s difficult to defend of course.

“It’s a disappointment because I think our first half was interesting but not sufficient to score and find the solution.

“It was interesting to experience the quality and it took this goal just about a few minutes and this changes the game, the profile of the game. From then it’s strong work with possibilities on the counter attack and it was easier for them to find solutions.”

Saints have played two of the Premier League’s major title contenders in back-to-back games, but whereas they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad, they were soundly beaten by Chelsea.

Puel feels there are major differences in the way the two sides play, but still believes a lot came down to his side and their influence on the game.

“It’s a different game of course because Manchester City tried to do good pressing high on the pitch with possession and to find solutions,” he reckoned.

“Chelsea like to stay behind with a strong work in defence, lines closed and try to play counter attack.

“We can see for example against us in the first half good possession for us with good play and we tried to find solutions but it was difficult as they stay with the lines closed.

“When you took a goal after a few minutes this situation confront Chelsea to play their game and it was easier for them.

“I like to have another scenario without that goal at the beginning of the game because I think we can do better but the difference between Chelsea and City is Chelsea have a different way to play.”