By Ashton Cox
Eden Hazard has said goodbye to Chelsea, as the Blues smashed local rivals Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League Final.
The Belgian played a crucial role in the victory, scoring two and assisting another as he wrapped up the Man of the Match award.
Real Madrid have targeted the player for years with a proposed bid in excess of £100 million, and now it looks as if they will finally get their man.
Now, it seems as if Los Blancos have got their man and the Blues will have to prepare for life without Hazard, who totalled 21 goals and 17 assists this season to fire Chelsea to a third placed league finish and two cup finals.
The Belgian confirmed: “I think it’s a goodbye, but in football you never know. My dream was to play in the Premier League, I did this for seven years in one of the biggest clubs in the world so now maybe it’s time for a new challenge.
“I told of my decision already….I said that two weeks ago, now it depends on the club.”
Chelsea legend and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has called time on his playing career at 37-years-old.
The Premier League all-time clean sheets record holder would not have wanted his last match to have ended in heavy defeat, yet his performance was commendable having made several good reflex saves in the first half.
Cech said: “I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of the way I played today because when you play your last career game in the final, there is a lot of pressure and a lot of speculations and all the things about Chelsea, so I had to perform.
“I can look back and have no regrets about today apart from the fact we worked so hard during the whole year, and in the end we have nothing.”
Victory meant Maurizio Sarri finally won his first major trophy in his 29-year managerial career, as his future remains up in the air.
The Italian coach said: “It’s a very important moment for the team and for the club, for me of course. I think now I have to win something else immediately in the next season.
“We have to discuss what I can improve and what the club can improve for me, I have a contract of course so probably I will be here.”
The deadlock was finally broken in the 49th minute as Emerson’s cross was arrowed into the bottom corner from the head of ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud.
Chelsea gave themselves breathing room in the 60th minute as a turnaround in possession in a dangerous area led to Pedro peeling away from Nacho Monreal to guide Hazard’s pass into the opposite bottom corner.
Four minutes later, Hazard scored a penalty for three-nil following Ainsley Maitland Niles’ careless foul on Giroud in the penalty area.
Hopes of a remarkable Arsenal revival were ignited in the 69th minute as Alex Iwobi punished a poor Jorginho header with a stunning half-volley from 20 yards out.
However, this dream was swiftly extinguished when a Hazard one-two pass with Giroud ended with the Belgian striking the ball into the goal with the side of his foot to seal Europa League victory with 19 minutes to play.