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Eden engineers dramatic departure
2019-05-31 
Eden Hazard scores Chelsea's fourth goal during Wednesday's 4-1 Europa League final victory over Arsenal at Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. [Photo/REUTERS]

Madrid-linked Hazard all but confirms Chelsea exit after brilliantly bamboozling Arsenal in Europa League finale

Eden Hazard said he's "ready for a new challenge" after playing a starring role in Chelsea's 4-1 Europa League final victory over Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday.

The Belgian playmaker showed why he's at the top of Real Madrid's summer shopping list with two goals, including one from the penalty spot, and an assist to pick apart the hapless Gunners.

He hugged teammates and waved to Blues fans at the final whistle, and afterward strongly hinted he had played his last game in a Chelsea shirt.

"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. So now maybe it's time for a new challenge," said Hazard, who also won the Europa League in 2013 with the west Londoners, as well two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup.

"I've made my decision already. Now it depends on the club. I'm just waiting like the fans wait, so you will know in a couple of days," the 28-year-old added.

"My target today was to win the trophy. That's it... the only thing that was on my mind."

Sarri uncertainty

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri is also reportedly headed for the Stamford Bridge exit door, with Juventus anxious for him to replace outgoing Massimiliano Allegri.

That speculation was racheted up a notch after Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck was spotted meeting with Juve counterpart Andrea Agnelli in the club's team hotel before the game.

Italian outlet Tuttosport said the pair also met to discuss Sarri's future, and that the Serie A champion is increasingly confident of luring the 60-year-old former Napoli manager back to Italy this summer.

Sarri said he wanted to meet with Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich-who missed most games this season due to British visa issues but was in Baku for the final-or director Marina Granovskaia to discuss his future.

"The season finished one hour ago so tomorrow I will begin to speak with my club, to the owner, to the director, or Marina, I don't know," said the Italian, who celebrated by smoking a huge cigar on the pitch.

"We need to know what the club can do for me, what I can do better for the club. I need to speak but I also think the club needs to speak with me."

Reflecting on his debut season in English soccer, Sarri added: "Of course the trophy is very important because we were in trouble in January and February and then we reacted.

"It is not easy to do that in the Premier League because the level is really very high.

"In the end we got into the Champions League, we played the final of the League Cup and lost on penalties to Manchester City. In the Europa League we played 15 matches and won 12 and drew three, so I think we deserved to win it."

Despite Chelsea's joy, the match was underwhelming, with the atmosphere inside Baku Olympic Stadium struggling to equal that of a typical European final.

There appeared to be several thousand empty seats and only around 6,000 fans traveled from England.

After a dour first half, former Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock just after the restart before Pedro put the Blues in control.

Alex Iwobi's strike either side of Hazard's brace was scant consolation for Arsenal, which bade farewell to retiring 37-year-old goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta lifts the trophy as the team celebrates winning the Europa League in Baku on Wednesday. [Photo/REUTERS]

'Amazing career'

Facing the team where he spent his best years, Cech bowed out with some good saves but ultimately a runner-up medal.

"It's disappointing to have lost the final and especially now. It was the last game of my career and you want to finish on a high, but I had an amazing career," said the former Czech Republic international, who holds a number of goalkeeping records, including the most shutouts in a single Premier League season (24).

"I have to say I have done everything, so I can look back and have no regrets."

Cech won the Champions League and four Premier League titles at Chelsea and there have been reports linking him with a return to Stamford Bridge in an administrative role.

"There is a lot of speculation about Chelsea and all these things," he said.

"I wanted to lift the trophy and sit down and think. Until June 30 I am an Arsenal player. Until that point I won't decide anything."

Cech moved across London to Arsenal in 2015 and predicts a positive future for the Gunners under coach Unai Emery.

"I can assure everybody who supports us the work we have done during the season will come next season and this team will be much stronger," he said.

Arsenal now faces a third consecutive campaign outside the Champions League, which could hurt its ability to attract transfer targets in the summer.

"We need the same players, the same idea, maybe also to add some new players," said Emery, a three-time Europa League winner with Sevilla.

"But it's the same way we've done this year, to do one step more. I think next year a lot of players who played the first time this year with us can be better."

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