CHELSEA’S hero of Amsterdam says he lived up to his promise to make the Europa League ‘his final’.

Branislav Ivanovic , who scored the injury-time winner to give Blues victory over Benfica on Wednesday and clinch the Europa League trophy, said he was desperate to make amends for missing last year’s Champions League final through suspension.

“For me Munich was really special,” said the Serbian. “But unfortunately I didn’t play. This was, as I said before, my final – and I have to be happy.

"I think this team over the last couple of years, how we have worked hard, we have deserved every award. But you have to fight for everything.

“This team spirit, and this team fighting spirit, is one of the most important things. They never give up. And this for our supporters, for our club, is great.”

The result of Chelsea’s 68th game of an epic season means they became the only team to hold the continent’s two top trophies simultaneously – albeit only for 10 days.

Ivanovic said it has been worth the slog.

He said: “I think the whole season when you look back, and when you see how hard the season was for us, I think at the end we deserve some trophies.

“When you look back, and you go out of the Champions League – the first time in history the winners go out after the group stage. It was very disappointing and very difficult in the beginning of the (Europa League) competition to find the motivation.

“It was a good chance for us to prove we are a good team, and in the end we are very happy about it.”

Chelsea’s challenge is not over, with the Blues needing to win at home to Everton on Sunday to be sure of third in the Premier League, and with it Champions League qualification and avoiding a possible play-off with Arsenal.

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