Rafa Benitez is leaving a good team for the incoming Mourinho 

Rafa did it then. Last night he achieved something that past and soon to be present Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has yet to experience.

Lampard hopeful over new deal 

Frank Lampard added a Europa League winner's medal to his collection and then spelt out his desire to finally sign a new deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea have a trophy cabinet like no other 

Later today, Chelsea will have something unique – a trophy cabinet housing BOTH of European football's major prizes.

In Pictures: Chelsea find a way to end their chaotic season with Europa League final glory 

Benfica 1 Chelsea 2: When they come to tell the story of the last 12 months of Chelsea’s history this night, this game, this trophy are really going to take some explaining.

Chelsea will be special for as long as Roman Abramovich stays 

Even by increasingly crazy Chelsea standards, this season has surely been the most turbulent, bizarre and bewildering of recent times at Stamford Bridge.

Benfica boss slams mind game claims 

Head coach Jorge Jesus has denied that his Benfica team have resorted to dirty tricks to gain a psychological edge over Chelsea ahead of tonight's Europa League final at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Portuguese to unveil another special blend 

It was the defining image of this, and probably any other, Portuguese Liga season. When substitute Kelvin fired Porto's stoppage-time winner in Saturday's top-of-the-table O Classico encounter with Benfica, the camera cut to the side of the pitch to witness the Lisbon side's coach Jorge Jesus falling to his knees on the turf.

Sir Alex Ferguson retires: Potential successor Jose Mourinho's best moments 

Jose Mourinho has been named as a front-runner to succeed newly-retired Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

David Luiz leads Chelsea's way to Europa League final with brilliant PlayStation goal 

Chelsea get low ticket allocation for Europa League final, but Rafa Benitez is just happy to get there 

Chelsea fans face a struggle to get tickets for their club’s Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam in 12 days’ time after Uefa announced last night that the club have been given an allocation of just 9,800 in a stadium that holds more than 52,000 spectators.

Chelsea through to Europa League final after defeating Basel 3 - 1 

Chelsea are through to the Europa League final after defeating Basel 3 - 1 at Stamford Bridge.

Diplomatic Juan Mata focuses on Chelsea's Europa League task 

The end of Juan Mata's second season at Chelsea is still at least five games away and yet already he is preparing for the possibility of his second European final, his third trophy and, unquestionably, the arrival of the fourth manager he has worked under.

Xabi Alonso can be part of Chelsea's 'cheap' Jose Mourinho deal with Real Madrid 

Chelsea could land Jose Mourinho on the cheap this summer and get the former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso into the bargain if the Real Madrid coach goes back to Stamford Bridge.

Bayern Munich through to Champions League final after 3 - 0 victory over Barcelona 

Bayern Munich have thrashed Barcelona 3 - 0 to make it an all German Champions League final later this month.

Barcelona's only hope is to repeat Bayern Munich battering of 2009 

Barcelona will call on their extraordinary capacity for high-scoring victories in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich – while doing their best to forget the defensive frailties that allowed the Germans a 4-0 victory in the first leg.

Jose Mourinho drops strongest hint he may leave Real Madrid 

Jose Mourinho has dropped the strongest hint yet that he may leave Real Madrid at the end of the season following their Champions League semi-final defeat against Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund through to Champions League final after a 4 - 3 aggregate win over Real Madrid 

Borussia Dortmund are through to the Champions League final after a 4-3 aggregate victory over Real Madrid, who won the second leg 2-0 at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho demands Real Madrid go down fighting 

It will probably be his last Champions League game as the home coach at the Bernabeu, and last night Jose Mourinho demanded that if his players are knocked out against Borussia Dortmund they at least go down fighting.

Europe's balance of power tipping towards a German Bundesliga that's expert in balancing books 

German football fans, in case you haven't noticed, are having a ball.

Chelsea 2 Basle 1 

Chelsea have beaten Basle 2-1 in the opening leg of their Europa League semi-final in Switzerland.