BAKU (AFP) - Chelsea thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in an all-English final in the Europa League on Wednesday (May 29).
Here AFP Sport looks at three things we learnt from the showpiece at Baku's Olympic Stadium:
1. Giroud makes most of European chance
Olivier Giroud has found opportunities difficult to come by in the Premier League following his January 2018 move from Arsenal, but the France striker again proved his worth in Chelsea's Europa League triumph as he finished the competition's top scorer with 11 goals, one above highly-rated Eintracht Frankfurt sharpshooter Luka Jovic.
Giroud has made just 13 league starts in 18 months at Stamford Bridge, scoring only twice in the top flight this season. He recently admitted his frustration at his bit-part role, but his displays on the continent have convinced the club's hierarchy to extend his deal for another season.
The former Gunners forward came back to haunt to his old side with a superb glancing header for the opening goal in Baku, and he also won a penalty that led to Chelsea's third goal and then teed up Eden Hazard to complete the rout.
2. Late season flourish boosts Sarri
Maurizio Sarri's future as Chelsea boss appeared bleak after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted during February's League Cup final defeat by Manchester City on penalties.
Â
Â
Already battling to avoid the sack, the Wembley mutiny further undermined the Italian's standing and left him apoplectic.
Yet Sarri, who has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus, oversaw a notable upturn in fortunes from that point forth, leading the Blues to a third-place finish in the league and a second Europa League crown in seven years.
Sarri had stolen the headlines 24 earlier when he angrily stormed off the pitch during a training session, but winning the final - his first title as a manager - transformed what he already claimed to be a "very good season" into a "wonderful" one.
3. Questions persist over Emery Unai
Emery's Europa League magic ran out in Baku, as he finished on the losing side for the first time in four finals.
A promising first 30 minutes from Arsenal quickly faded into a distant memory as Chelsea blew the Gunners away with a merciless second-half blitz that underlined the magnitude of the task Emery faces as the successor to Arsene Wenger.
In a time of transition, the Basque coach has done a steady if unspectacular job, but doubts remain over his ability to lead Arsenal back to past heights after they missed out on Champions League revenue for the third year in a row.
Valencia coach Marcelino insists the pressure will be on Arsenal when his side take on the Gunners in the Europa League semi-finals. Toni Lato and Dani Parejo were on target for Los Che as they
Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino - msn.com
Wolves to make it 'special' LONDON • No other player at Molineux is in a better position to judge the rise of Wolves than Matt Doherty. The Ireland right-back is the only surviving member of their 2011-12 Premier League season when they went down after finishing rock bottom.
What Are Wolf Adaptations? | Reference.com
Tigers riding high, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits
UEFA Champions League Final live screening - ticketing
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino considers his two-match touchline ban for confronting referee Mike Dean to be "completely unfair" and has hinted at an appeal.. The Spurs boss has been
Pochettino feels touchline ban is 'completely unfair'
Football: Manchester City will not rest amid packed schedule
Bayern Munich won a record-extending seventh consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive
What's gone wrong for Chelsea? 5 ways Maurizio Sarri can prevent crisis. The Blues suffered a setback vs Wolves with the Italian under pressure ahead of the Man City clash
Sarri proved beyond doubt who's in charge at Chelsea by
Socceroos will bounce back, declares Arnold the Socceroos most certainly have Palestine covered. But the same was true last week in Al Ain, when a ferocious and focused Jordanian outfit pulled
Socceroos beat Palestine, live to fight another day at Asian Cup
Solskjaer 'confident' of Manchester United miracle in Paris Solskjaer's side will be aiming to overturn a 2-0 deficit at PSG in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. Share Via Email
Premier League » News » Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd
An early Mohamed Salah penalty and a late strike by Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's all-English Champions League final as their coach Juergen Klopp
Liverpool win Champions League after Salah and Origi sink
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool will fight till the end, Klopp stresses (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said English Premier League title rivals Manchester City are currently the best team in the world but there is no guarantee Pep Guardiola's side will finish the season with an unprecedented quadruple.
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-man-city-look-like-worlds-best-side-but-liverpool-will-fight-till-the-end-klopp-stresses/
Football: Man City look like world's best side but Liverpool will fight till the end, Klopp stresses 04/05/2019 EPL , Jurgen Klopp , Liverpool (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said English Premier League title rivals Manchester City are currently the best team in the world but there is no guarantee Pep Guardiola's side will finish
Man City look like world's best but Liverpool will fight: Klopp
thenigerianexpression.com/2019/04/05/man-city-look-like-worlds-best-but-liverpool-will-fight-klopp/
Liverpool, April 5, 2019 (TNE) Liverpool Manager Juergen Klopp said Premier League title rivals Manchester City are currently the best team in the world but there is no guarantee Pep Guardiola's side will finish the season with an unprecedented quadruple.
Klopp: We all have problems - apart from Manchester City
Football For Friendship Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years. Sport Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years.
Cristiano Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years, says
'Electric' Sterling has boss purring LONDON • When Raheem Sterling grew up within the shadow of Wembley, he would ride around on his bike marvelling at the gleaming stadium, dreaming of playing there.
Garage Heaters - Heaters - The Home Depot
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen