Giroud & Hazard Speak On Chelsea’s FA Cup Final Clash With Man United, EPL Last Top Four

 

Hazard and Giroud

 

Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud, two key performers in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton, felt they were deserved winners at Wembley, and the duo are now targeting getting their hands on the trophy next month.

It will be a repeat of the 2007 final as Chelsea face Manchester United, winners over Tottenham on Saturday, in the final on 19 May, with Giroud and fellow striker, Alvaro Morata scoring in the second half to secure the club’s third straight victory.

The Frenchman broke the deadlock inside the opening minute of the second half when he displayed fantastic footwork to get the better of four defenders, as well as goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, to fire Chelsea in front.

‘We played a good first half but we couldn’t finish the job, so we wanted to start strongly in the second half,’ Giroud told chelseafc.com.

‘The manager just told us to keep going and to play our game. Eden gave me a good ball and after that I just tried to avoid the players in front of me. I was pretty sure there were a lot of players around me so I wanted to try something. I got a little bit lucky but that’s what I wanted to do.’

Giroud has already won the FA Cup on three separate occasions – 2014, 2015 and 2017 – with former club Arsenal, and the striker now hopes to end his first season as a Chelsea player by adding to his haul.

‘I said to the boys I really want to win another one with Chelsea, that’s the target for the end of the season. We really want to win this trophy. It’s a special competition for me. We are going to give our best in the championship and then prepare for an amazing final.’

As well as laying on the opening goal, Hazard was outstanding throughout and deservedly picked up the man of the match award.

The Belgian felt it was an afternoon on which the team showed exactly what they are capable of.

‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘We gave everything until the end. We played the second half very well, we got the goals and we controlled the whole game so we are satisfied. Now we go back to league and then we can think about the final against Man United.

 

‘Southampton have good players, really good, so we had to be aware all the time. When you can score a second goal to close the game you need to do it, and we did. I’m very happy for the boys, the club and the fans and we will enjoy the final, for sure.’

Hazard believes it is time for Antonio Conte’s side to concentrates on their FA Cup final with United and how to finish top four in the EPL this term.

“We gave everything, we played very good football especially in the second half and controlled the game,” Hazard told BBC Sport after the match.

“Now we go to the final and for the championship (Premier League) again and then we can think about the final against Manchester United.

 

“Southampton have good players, really good, so we had to be aware every time they had the ball and when you can score the second to close the game you have to do it. We will enjoy the final now,” he added.

Chelsea chances of finishing in the EPL top four and returning to Champions League next season hang by a thread, with a fifth place finish looking extremely likely.

Hazard was asked if fifth place and the FA Cup title would constitute success, he responded: “No, we want to finish in the top four and win the FA Cup that’s the target.”

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