Europa League Final – Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal
Chelsea is the new Europa League champion, trashing Arsenal with all goals being scored in the second half. Eden Hazard was the man of the match scoring a brace and delivering an assist for his last game with the club. Indeed, the Belgian international will now move on to La Liga championship and Real Madrid this summer and left the club with a major trophy.
Madrid has been the focal point these last few days as the UEFA Champions League Final on June 1st between Liverpool and Tottenham is upon us. Champions League betting odds are favoring the Reds to win the competition for the sixth time while Tottenham are playing their first ever final. For the first time in football history all teams in both European Cup finals are originated from the same country.
Coach Sarri comments on what changes he made at the break:
“My feeling at the end of the first half was that the match was very difficult. It was our 64th match of the season and it was hot on the pitch, very difficult to play physically. My feeling from the bench was that we were trying to manage the result. At half-time I asked my players to play with more courage, even if it meant risking to lose.
I wanted my team to move the ball better, and the players did it very well in the second half. We played very good football against a very difficult opponent, who are dangerous in the offensive phase and from counter-attacks. We played very good football and the match was good also for the fans I think.”
On winning a major title with Chelsea:
“Of course the trophy is very important for us and for me. Our feeling was we deserved to win. After we went in trouble in January and February, we reacted. At the end we got the Champions League through the Premier League, which is not easy.
We played a final in the League Cup and we qualified after beating the Champions League finalists Liverpool and Tottenham, and we lost by penalties the final against Man City. In the Europa League we played 15 matches, we won 12 and drew three, so I think we deserve to win the Europa League.”
Chelsea conclude the season on a high note and had a very competitive season under coach Sarri. For his first year, the Italian manager brought to the club its sixth trophy overall and the third one over the last decade.
