Hazard hints at Chelsea exit after Europa League final win
The Belgian winger secured victory for the west London side in what could be his last game for the club.
Thursday 30 May 2019 04:02, UK
Chelsea have won the Europa League final after beating Arsenal 4-1 at the Baku National Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Eden Hazard scored two goals on what could be the last time he played for the west London side, in a victory that has prevented Arsenal from qualifying for the Champions League.
After the match the Belgian winger appeared to confirm speculation that he is departing Stamford Bridge.
He told BT Sport: "I think it's a goodbye. But in football you never know.
"My dream was to play in the Premier League and I did this for seven years for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"Maybe it's time for a new challenge."
Olivier Giroud delivered the opening goal against his former side at 49 minutes, before Brazilian striker Pedro struck 11 minutes later to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.
Hazard then slotted home a penalty against former Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech to make it 3-0 with about 25 minutes to go.
The spot kick was awarded after Giroud was barged over in the area by Arsenal winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Alex Iwobi scored with a half volley in the 69th minute to hint that the Gunners might be about to mount a fightback.
But Hazard's second goal three minutes later proved to be the last of the game.
The second-half goal spree came after a goalless first half in which Giroud missed the best chance and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka hit the bar.
Chelsea's victory marks the second time they have won the tournament.
It is also the first time Maurizio Sarri has won silverware in his 29-year managerial career, and comes amid speculation he may leave Stamford Bridge to join Juventus.
Arsenal's defeat prevents them from lifting their first European trophy since 1994 and stops coach Unai Emery from securing his fourth Europa League title.
Relatively few English fans travelled to Azerbaijan for the final because of high travel costs, and neither Arsenal nor Chelsea sold out their allocations of 6,000 tickets each.
However, many fans of both clubs have flown in from Russia and South East Asia, and both Arsenal and Chelsea have local supporters in Azerbaijan.
Arsenal player Henrikh Mkhitaryan, from Armenia, chose not to travel to Baku because of an unresolved dispute between Azerbaijan and his home country over Nagorno-Karabakh, which has previously descended into war claiming tens of thousands of lives.
Tensions remain high between Azerbaijan, in which the landlocked mountainous region lies, and its ethnic Armenian majority, backed by neighbouring Armenia.
Arsenal fans wearing Mkhitaryan shirts were filmed being stopped by Azerbaijan police in Baku ahead of the final.