Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has labelled Saturday’s Uefa Champions League victory over Bayern Munich as an “amazing achievement”, while Frank Lampard says it’s everything.
The Blues got past Bayern 4-3 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 following 120 minutes of play and Di Matteo, in interim charge, was full of praise for his players.
“It was very stressful. It was an amazing achievement by the players,” he told Sky Sports. “The game wasn’t ideal with suspensions, the injuries and we went for 120 minutes with players who haven’t played for three weeks, four weeks, and it’s just been incredible, the passion and the pride that the players have to bring the trophy home.”
Didier Drogba scored Chelsea’s 88th-minute equaliser and the decisive penalty in the shootout. The Ivorian saluted his team’s never-say-die spirit.
“They never give up until the end. This team is amazing,” Drogba told ITV. “I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we’ve had before, all the players I’ve played with before.”
He also praised keeper Petr Cech who saved an extra-time penalty before his blocks in the shootout to thwart both Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“When we have this guy in goal you have to believe,” Drogba said.
Stand-in skipper Frank Lampard was delighted to finally lift the Champions League after years of going close, including the 2007-08 final which they lost on penalties to Manchester United.
“It means everything - we have been trying to do this for so many years now. This is the one we really wanted and we have got it,” Lampard said.
He also praised Drogba, when he said: “I can’t believe it. The determination we’ve shown… we didn’t play fantastic but the main man Didier dug us out of trouble there. He’s a hero. Without him we’re not here. He scores the goals in the big games.”
Fernando Torres was also gleaming with pride at a “dream come true” when all seemed lost earlier in the season.
“This is a dream come true for everybody connected with the club, and not just for me,” Torres said. “We felt at times throughout the season that we had nothing going for us but look at us now. We’ve won two trophies and that has given us the chance to fight for three more next season.
“This is football. You should never give up because the rewards are there if you work hard.”
Juan Mata added: “For me, it’s my first Champions League, and the first one for Chelsea. To win after having to play extra-time and penalties is just fantastic.
“To never give up is one of our best assets; even when we were losing with two minutes to go, it would have been easy for us to just give up at that moment but we didn’t. We were lucky but destiny was with us.”
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