Eden Hazard believes he is a more complete player than when he was named the Footballer of the Year and admits he prefers getting fouled than being left alone.
Hazard scored one of the goals of the season as Chelsea beat London rivals Arsenal 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Belgium international was named the best player in the Premier League by the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association when Chelsea won the title two years ago.
His form dipped alarmingly last term, but the 26-year-old is expected to be in the running for the award yet again after scoring 10 goals in 30 appearances.
"Yes, maybe," he said after being asked if he is a more well-rounded player than in 2015. "With experience you get more. I think I'm a better player. But I think we are in better form as a team. It's not just me.
"A couple of years ago I was on fire. Maybe I can score more goals this season. Two years ago I finished with maybe 13-14 [it was 19], I don't remember. We have a lot of games to play, we will see.
"I try to be this kind of player that when I get the ball I do something. From the moment I get the ball, I try to do something.
"Sometimes in the past, I don't touch the ball for 20-30 minutes. But now I try to touch the ball all the time and play my football for my team-mates.
In Pictures | Chelsea vs Arsenal | 04/02/2017
"It's (the Arsenal goal) one of the best. It's up to you and the fans to choose! In this style it's one of the best, but I have scored with my left foot in the Europa League, there was a goal against Manchester United in the FA Cup, I scored a few good goals. But it is always good to score this kind of goal in a big game.
"(My team-mates said) Congratulations for what you did, but for all the players it was the same. It's not about me. Okay, I scored a good goal, but it's all about the team."
As Standard Sport revealed last week, Hazard has been suffering with a minor hamstring injury since the win at Leicester on January 14.
He suffered another blow when he was fouled by Shkodran Mustafi in the first half and also left the ground limping due to a minor calf problem sustained when Francis Coquelin failed to stop him from scoring Chelsea's second goal.
Statistics show that Hazard is the most fouled player in the Premier League, but he prefers it that way.
The former Lille star explained: "Yes, it is my motivation. It's true. When I get a lot of kicks I feel like I'm really in the game."
"When people don't touch me, it means I'm no good," he joked. "I'm not saying I like to be kicked, but it's good for me to be in the game."
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Chelsea | 24 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 59 |
| 2 | Tottenham | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 50 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 49 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 47 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 24 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 46 |
| 6 | Man United | 24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 45 |
| 7 | Everton | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 40 |
| 8 | West Brom | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 36 |
| 9 | West Ham | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | -9 | 31 |
| 10 | Watford | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | -11 | 30 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | -7 | 29 |
| 12 | Burnley | 24 | 9 | 2 | 13 | -9 | 29 |
| 13 | Southampton | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | -7 | 27 |
| 14 | Bournemouth | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | -12 | 26 |
| 15 | Middlesbrough | 24 | 4 | 9 | 11 | -8 | 21 |
| 16 | Leicester City | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -17 | 21 |
| 17 | Swansea City | 24 | 6 | 3 | 15 | -25 | 21 |
| 18 | Hull City | 24 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -25 | 20 |
| 19 | Crystal Palace | 24 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -13 | 19 |
| 20 | Sunderland | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | -18 | 19 |