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CHELSEA became the fourth English team to reach a European final this season after defeating Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties on Thursday night.
It was fitting that Eden Hazard scored the winning penalty on what could have been his last appearance at Stamford Bridge, with Real Madrid hoping to sign the Belgian this summer.
Hazard will now try to lead his side to glory in the Europa League final, where they face Arsenal.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes his side deserve to lift a trophy after the season they have had.
They lost to Manchester City in the League Cup final earlier this season, but the Italian hopes they can now go one better.
“We played the first final against Manchester City in the League Cup, we lost so now we want to win, and in my opinion our group deserve it,” he said.
“We were in trouble three months ago, and here in England if you are in trouble the level of opponent is very high and it’s not easy to overcome difficulties.”
“But we were able to do it, so now we deserve to win a trophy.”
Ruben Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring, finishing like a striker after latching on to Hazard’s scything through ball.
That put Chelsea ahead on aggregate but Luka Jovic, Eintracht’s own coveted star, restored parity following a one-two with Mijat Gacinovic.
Cesar Azpilicueta missed the first penalty of the shootout, but was saved by his goalkeeper, Kepa, who remained planted in the centre of the goal as Martin Hinteregger tried to power his strike low down the middle.
The Spaniard then saved from Goncalo Paciencia, leaving David Luiz and Hazard to book Chelsea’s place in the final.
Sarri described this second leg as a “wonderful match,” but couldn’t watch once the game went to penalties. “I didn’t want to suffer,” he admitted.
His side now join two other London clubs in European finals, their Europa League final opponents Arsenal, and Tottenham who meet Liverpool in the Champions League.
“The level here is very high,” Sarri added.
“In this moment the Premier League is the best championship in Europe and as a consequence, the world.”
