Europa League final: I see it at 50 per cent, either team can win, says Lauren

Image
ANI Football
Last Updated : May 29 2019 | 4:50 PM IST

Chelsea and Arsenal are gearing up for the Europa League final and latter's former defender Lauren appears to be indecisive regarding the match's result saying that both the teams have equal possibility to clinch the title.

"I see it at 50 per cent, either can win," Goal.com quoted Lauren as saying.

Arsenal looks in a good shape and will be entering in the final with a lot of confidence as they registered a dominating 7-3 (aggregate) win over Valencia in the semi-finals.

But, in spite of being indecisive, Lauren feels that Chelsea's Eden Hazard, who is likely to join Real Madrid after this season, will be a 'decisive' factor in the match.

"I give Chelsea a chance because Hazard has been a symbol for that team and he wants to seal the title for Chelsea as the culmination of his career at the club. He can be decisive for Chelsea apart from other tactical factors," he said.

Praising the Belgian, Lauren termed Hazard an 'unpredictable' player and even compared him to Manchester United's legend Ryan Giggs.

"Being very smart. He is an unpredictable player. I always compare him with Ryan Giggs. They are players who, in addition to being skilled, are intelligent. They combine well with the midfield - at times they look for you in the centre instead of staying on the wing," Lauren said.

There is no team who enter in the final without any added pressure but Lauren said playing in the final is a 'blessing'.

"I always say the same thing, there is no pressure. As a footballer, I prefer this kind of pressure. To play for titles, that's not a pressure. The pressure is fighting to avoid relegation. You do not know where you are going to be next year if you are going to be fighting to be relegated to the second division. That is pressure. The fact of playing a final and being able to win a title is not a pressure. That pressure is a blessing," he said.

The Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea will be played on May 30.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 29 2019 | 4:40 PM IST

Next Story