Flo: Chelsea can win final without Hazard

By

Former Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo believes the Blues have the quality to beat Benfica and win the Europa League – even if Eden Hazard misses out.

Hazard is a doubt for Wednesday’s final in Amsterdam after picking up a hamstring injury against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Chelsea are looking to become only the fourth club to win the European Cup Winners Cup, Europa League/Uefa Cup and Champions League.

And Flo said: “They have such a good team that I think they will win no matter what players they put out.

“I hope Hazard plays. He has been in excellent form and was great in the semi-final.

“But Frank Lampard is hot at the moment too and you have to mention Juan Mata as well.

“He [Mata] has scored some very important goals but also it’s the number of assists he gets. Chelsea have good players everywhere.”

Flo spent three years at Stamford Bridge and was part of the Cup Winners Cup-winning side of 1998.

He scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Real Betis in the quarter-final first leg in Spain and played 71 minutes in the final before being replaced by Gianfranco Zola, who crashed home Chelsea’s winner seconds after coming on.

“It is not problem being substituted for a man like that,” Flo recalled.

“I have only good things to say about that final and especially Gianfranco. The fact we won was superb.

“I was happy with the way I played as well and I only have great memories of that day.

“It’s a special thing to play in a European final and the nice thing for us was that it was also the last game of the season so you can give 100% and then have a holiday.

“To win and get a cup like that is a wonderful feeling.”

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

 

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook