It’s Goodbye To Stamford Bridge – Hazard
Belgian international, Eden Hazard suggested he has played his final game for Chelsea after his two goals helped the English side win this year’s Europa League final.
After his brace in the final saw the Blues dumping Arsenal 4-1, the Belgian star appeared to formally confirm his exit from Stamford Bridge as there is nothing more for him to prove in England
According to the mercurial attacking midfielder, “I think it is a goodbye, but in football you never know. My dream was to play in the Premier League and I have done that for one of the biggest clubs. So, maybe now it is the time for a new challenge.”
Hazard said his decision was made and on Wednesday he indicated that an announcement on his future would be forthcoming shortly. “I don’t know yet. I think it will be decided in a few days,” he said.
Speaking immediately after the Europa Cup final match, Hazard said; “My target was to win the trophy; that was the only thing in my mind. I made my decision already.
“I said it two weeks ago. Now it depends on the clubs, both clubs. I am just waiting. You will see, you will know in a couple of days.”
Hazard will be leaving Chelsea with one final strong performance though, as his brace in Baku helped the Blues to a trophy in manager Maurizio Sarri’s first season in charge.
The Blues and the Gunners entered half-time scoreless before the deluge of goals in the second half, with Olivier Giroud and Pedro opening the scoring for Chelsea before Hazard’s brace.
“When Ollie scored, I think it was the beginning of a great night,” Hazard said, adding; “We played well in the second half. They had a few chances at the end when the score was 4-1. I’m just happy to lift this trophy with the boys.”
With his double, Hazard became the first player to score a brace in the final of a major UEFA competition for an English club since Mark Hughes for Manchester United against Barcelona in the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup final.
On what Sarri told his side at the break, Hazard said: “Just to keep playing, try to keep playing. What we did in the second half.
“We know we have the players when we want to play all together. We fight all together. This showed our mentality. We did it for the boys, for the fans, for the manager, for the staff. It’s a great trophy to win.”
The Chelsea talisman has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants, Real Madrid at the end of this season.
Real, currently managed by France soccer great, Zinedine Yazid Zidane, have kept the Belgian forward on their radar for years now.
According to reports, Zidane, nicknamed ‘Zizou’ by fans in his playing days, is considered as a silent admirer of the petit Belgian star. – With agency reports
