LONDON • Chelsea fear it may be a parting gift, but should today's Europa League final be Eden Hazard's last game for the Premier League club, the Belgium forward is determined to go out on a high.
After seven "amazing" seasons at Stamford Bridge, he is expected to move to Real Madrid this summer after running down his contract into its final year.
While a deal has yet to be announced with his long-term suitors, Hazard has shown no interest in extending his contract beyond 2020 and has already told the club where his future lies.
However, Chelsea's position is complicated by a Fifa ban on signing players for the next two transfer windows.
Sell now and as things stand, pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, they will be unable to recruit a replacement.
Holding on to him for a further 12 months, though, runs the risk of a player who can leave for nothing next summer rather than for a reported £100 million ($174.5 million) fee.
Having always pledged to depart with a trophy, victory against Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan would provide the perfect send-off.
The 28-year-old, who also ruled out playing for another English club, said: "It is a European competition so for me, for the club, for the manager, for the fans, it is something important.
"When you play a final, it does not matter whether it is the Champions League, Europa League or League Cup - you just want to win.
"If it is my last game, I hope to bring (home) the trophy. My first trophy at Chelsea was the (2013) Europa League, so it would be a nice last trophy."
Blues manager Maurizio Sarri, who himself could be headed for pastures new, has also admitted the club "need to be ready if (Hazard) wants something different".
While Hazard, who has also won two Premier League titles, a League Cup and the FA Cup with Chelsea, suggested he would speak about his future only when an agreement has been struck, that could come soon after the Belgian said "after the final, we will see what happens".
He added: "At the moment, nothing has happened, so I can't say anything. It's in the hands of the clubs. But I can put it aside. I have done it during a full season right now and I have played reasonably well. So I stay in that mode, just thinking about football.
"If we go to Baku with a strong approach to the game, we can do something good there."
In his way of a final hurrah stand Arsenal, who like the Blues, are determined to end what has been a topsy-turvy season with silverware.
But unlike Chelsea, Unai Emery's men missed out on Champions League qualification via a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The Arsenal manager knows that with a victory, his players will fulfil "two objectives - to go to the Champions League and after, to play with the titles".
At his pre-match press conference yesterday, the Spaniard said: "I want to do something important here, for example to play for this title. We deserved to be here, we feel to do something here.
"Above all is to enjoy and play with all our good spirit.
"We're playing for our supporters whether they're here or not."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
CHELSEA V ARSENAL
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held (Reuters) - Arsenal took an early lead but a red card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos changed the game as the Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Rennes on a night of tightly-contested Europa League last-16 first-leg ties on Thursday.
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held - Football News
Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling goal disallowed had advanced after Sterling goal disallowed his side had advanced to the Champions League semi-finals until a member
Moussa Sissoko unaware Raheem Sterling's goal was ruled out
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday. The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
Football: PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Football: Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the match. PHOTO: AFP
Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace
Eden Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win Michy Batshuayi got the other goal for the top team in the FIFA rankings, who began their campaign last Thursday with a 3-1 home
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
Rescuers ended their search, on Thursday, for the plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala, which disappeared over the English Channel three days ago, after saying there was
UK rescuers end search for missing plane carrying soccer
Model Marisa Papen Courts Controversy Again With Nude Photo Shoot In Turkey. At this point, we again knew, that this was a very real situation and if we would get caught, we would be very much
Ram Gopal Varma courts controversy again, says he will
Football: Bayern forward Sandro Wagner moves to China's Tianjin Teda after 'very attractive offer' "He had a very attractive offer from China and we met his request."
Bayern forward, Wagner, makes China move after 'very
SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE. Home United v Young Lions. Bishan Stadium, 5.30pm. They had a taste of blood, and now the Young Lions want more. Tipped by many to struggle in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) this season, Fandi Ahmad's charges pulled off a massive upset last week when they beat a Hougang United team boasting several senior national players 2-1.
John Cena reveals another shock new look - and WWE fans love
sportsloveme.com/wwe/john-cena-reveals-another-shock-new-look-and-wwe-fans-love-it/
What can be decided this weekend? English football permutations on a pivotal week; Tony Bellew picks best Premier League team with no Liverpool players; Match Of The Week: Home United's interim coach Noh Rahman is not resting on his laurels
Firmino Suffers Harm After Liverpool's 5-Objective Rout
Eleven Sports hit by poor take-up rate in UK, Football News
Son's late winner gives Tottenham edge over Man City the South Korean's late goal secured a 1-0 home win over Manchester City in an absorbing Champions League quarter-final first leg on
Son's late winner gives Tottenham edge over Man City
0 comments:
Post a Comment