Michael the Chelsea fan proved he’s a true blue by telling talkSPORT about his insane journey to watch Wednesday’s Europa League final in Baku. UEFA’s decision to stage the final in the Azerbaijani capital has given London-based supporters an absolute nightmare in their quest to try and support their clubs. There were no direct flights from London to Baku, putting hoards of supporters off the trip for the European showcase. Chelsea and Arsenal were given an allocation of just 6,000 tickets each, but it is claimed the Gunners have returned 2,300 tickets while the Blues are believed to have handed back around 4,000. Michael is one of the lucky ones who…

Eden Hazard provided Chelsea fans with the perfect farewell gift – netting a double during the Europa League final against Arsenal. The Belgian, who looks set to leave for Real Madrid this summer, scored from the spot before rounding off a superb team-move to net Chelsea’s third and fourth goals. After his penalty, Hazard appeared to blow a kiss and wave in the direction of the Chelsea fans, who were chanting his name. He was removed in the 89th minute to a wonderful ovation from the Blues supporters in attendance. It comes after he blew kisses to the travelling fans following the final Premier League game of the season at…

Chelsea and Arsenal are set to contest the Europa League final – but only a fraction of tonight’s stadium will be fans of the Premier League giants. The final is being held at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan, a 6,000-mile round trip from London. After Chelsea and Arsenal got past their semi-final opponents, the logistics and costs of getting to the venue have caused mayhem for both sets of supporters. UEFA were slammed for only allocating 12,000 tickets to the English duo in the 70,000 capacity stadium. Click Here: But due to the travel nightmare of getting to Baku, Chelsea and Arsenal have sent back a combined 6,000 tickets.…

Questions were raised when Petr Cech was named to start against his past, and potentially future, employers in the Europa League final – but he soon silenced the doubters. Playing the final game of his career, the 37-year-old rolled back the years to produce a string of fine saves for Arsenal and keep Chelsea out. Reports suggest the former Blues keeper will return to Stamford Bridge as the club’s new director of football this summer – leading some to suggest he should’ve been left out of the Gunners starting XI in Baku. Before the match, talkSPORT host Adrian Durham said: “He’s about to go back to Chelsea in the summer…

Cesc Fabregas insists something must change at Chelsea to prevent so much negativity surrounding the club. The former Blues midfielder, who left Stamford Bridge for Monaco in January, suggests fans are left in the dark about various incidents at the club. Fabregas watched two managers, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, depart during his Chelsea career – and neither left quietly. Meanwhile, doubts surround the future of Maurizio Sarri, despite the Blues’ finishing third in the Premier League and reaching two finals – of the Carabao Cup and the Europa League. Ahead of the showdown with Arsenal, Fabregas told BT Sport: “All these years I spent at Chelsea, sometimes there’s such…

Some players buckle under the pressure in the big games – not Eden Hazard. Click Here: The Belgian stole the show in the Europa League final with a superb second-half double for Chelsea against Arsenal, in what is likely to be his final game for the Blues before his expected move to Real Madrid this summer. Olivier Giroud and Pedro were also on target after the break, with Alex Iwobi’s brilliant strike proving no more than a consolation for the Gunners. Here, talkSPORT.com examines Hazard’s man of the match performance in Chelsea’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Unai Emery’s men in Baku. Movement Hazard’s constant search for work took him right…

Petr Cech will start for Arsenal in the Europa League final against Chelsea despite reports he will become the Blues’ new director of football this summer. The Gunners goalkeeper plays his last ever game, against his former club, before hanging up his gloves for good – and he is widely expected to return to Stamford Bridge in a technical role. Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante has provided Chelsea with a huge boost by passing a late fitness test. The Frenchman was a doubt for the Baku showpiece due to a knee injury – but he has been named in the starting XI. Olivier Giroud gets the nod up front over Gonzalo Higuain,…

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has labelled reports linking him to the Juventus job as ‘bull****’. Juve are currently on the search for a new manager after Massimiliano Allegri was sacked – despite winning five successive Serie A titles at the Allianz Stadium. Klopp, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola have all been linked with the vacancy in Turin. And ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League final against Tottenham on Saturday, which is LIVE on talkSPORT, Klopp said: “Yes, of course Serie A is very attractive as a championship. “There is nothing true, however, in the rumours that would tie me to Juventus. “I hear some journalists talking about it…

The first of the two all-English European finals takes place on Wednesday night between Arsenal and Chelsea. The two Premier League clubs face each other for the Europa League in Baku, with commentary live on talkSPORT. For Arsenal it is a chance to claim that all important Champions League place while Maurizio Sarri is looking to end a turbulent season with his first every trophy as a manager. Ahead of the 8pm kick-off there is still plenty we do not know. Unai Emery did not confirm if Petr Cech will start the match in his final professional game while N’Golo Kante was only 50/50 to play. Here at talkSPORT.com we…