Europa League title would be fitting farewell for Chelsea's Hazard
Soccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 A worker walks in front of a image of Chelsea's Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reuters) - Eden Hazard has said that victory in Wednesday's Europa League final against Arsenal would be a fitting way to bring the curtains down on his Chelsea career.
The Belgian international, who is a target for Real Madrid, will enter the final year of his Chelsea contract next season and has refused to sign an extension, meaning the London club could lose him for free if they do not sell him this year.
"That would be good, that would be a nice last trophy," Hazard told reporters on Monday. "If it is my last game, I hope to bring the trophy."
Soccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 A worker waters plants in front of Europa League Final signage REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
"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, you just want to bring the trophy home and celebrate that."
Hazard has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup as well as the Europa League since joining Chelsea from Lille in 2012.
Soccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 Security staff play football in front of The Maiden Tower before the opening of the fan zone REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
He scored 16 goals and created another 15 in the Premier League this season as Chelsea finished third in the table and said he was fully focused on the final despite the speculation over his future.
"At the moment, nothing has happened, so I can't say anything. It's in the hands of the clubs," he said. "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. After the final, we will see what happens."
Soccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 Fans pose for a photograph REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Soccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 Workers at The Heydar Aliyev Center REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 A Arsenal fan poses next to a giant replica of the Europa League trophy REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 General view of The Heydar Aliyev Center REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 People walk in front of a billboard in the city centre REUTERS/Anton VaganovSoccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 People walk next to Europa League Final signage REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Europa League Final - Preview - Baku, Azerbaijan - May 28, 2019 People take a selfie on top of The Maiden Tower REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
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