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Europa League final: Depriving Arsenal of Champions League football should help motivate Chelsea
Depriving Arsenal of Champions League football should be Chelsea’s motivation for winning the Europa League, according to a former player.
The London rivals will lock horns in the final of Europe’s secondary competition in Baku on Wednesday.
The prize on offer - in addition to the glory of lifting the trophy - is a place in next season’s Champions League.
But Chelsea qualified for the top-tier competition already, ending the Premier League season in third position, with Arsenal missing out by finishing fifth.
And while the Gunners will be desperate to make that right by lifting the Europa League, Wayne Bridge reckons Chelsea would love to rub salt in the wound by winning the final.
“They (Chelsea) are obviously in the Champions League, but they could do with a trophy to be honest,” the former left-back said.
“It’s not the trophy that they’d probably want but it’s still a trophy. And if they do win it, then Arsenal don’t get Champions League football, so it’s an alright season when you say that.
“Third place, a cup and Arsenal don’t get Champions League football. I think a few of them would be happy, though they could be happier.
“Arsenal are going to have the motivation, but if it was me as a player, I’d be thinking they ain’t getting Champions League.
“So you hope that the players they have got there will think along those lines.”
While Arsenal and Chelsea are booked to compete in the Europa League final, Liverpool and Tottenham will fight for the Champions League trophy.
It caps a remarkable season on a domestic level, where Jurgen Klopp’s Reds missed out on the Premier League despite accumulating 97 points.
And Bridge believes this season proved English football was back to its rip-roaring best.
He added: “It’s great to have the all-English final. I love that we’ve got four teams in two European cup finals.
“It’s great for the Premier League. It goes to show how good our league is, Arsenal have been fantastic in Europe, they just haven’t done it in the Premier league this year.
“I think they are a great team, got some great players, if the manager can add a few players they are going to be even better next year.
“But if they don’t get Champions League, he might not attract the players he wants. It’s a bigger game for Arsenal in those terms, attracting players and the Champions League football, but obviously Chelsea need trophies as well.
“I know they’re already in a final, but if you say third and a trophy it looks better for both Chelsea and the fans.”
Wayne Bridge was appearing at the latest Virgin Media #SuperSaints event which saw fans play at St Mary’s Stadium. For more information on the campaign, visit https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-tv-edit/super-saints
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