We wuz NEARLY robbed: Rage at bonkers Basel penalty inspired Chelsea's Europa League win
We wuz NEARLY robbed: Rage at bonkers Basel penalty inspired Chelsea's Europa League win
"We had this feeling we didn't deserve to concede like that.
It was extra motivation" says Benitez of spot-kick even fouled player
didn't appeal for
Spotty herbert: Chelsea refused to let the ref take away their win
Clive Rose
From Martin Lipton in Basel
Rafa Benitez claimed his Chelsea side were fuelled by a miscarriage of justice after David Luiz's last-gasp free-kick gave them a foot in the Europa League Final.
Benitez's
Blues were holding onto Victor Moses' early lead when home side Basel
were gifted a penalty as Valentin Stocker fell in the box in front of
Cesar Azpilicueta.
But Luiz crashed a shot through the Basel wall
with the last kick of the game to put Chelsea in a commanding position
to claim a date with Fenerbahce or Benfica in Amsterdam on May 15.
And
Benitez admitted the anger that ran through his players after Fabian
Schar converted the spot-kick had driven them on to win.
Benitez said: "We all had this feeling that we didn't deserve to concede a goal like that. It was an extra motivation. Ref justice: Benitez reckons Chelsea were well worth their late winner
Clive Rose
"It was a very strange decision, a surprise for everybody and
could've made the difference. Nobody felt that it was a penalty because
the ball was in the air.
"Of course it wasn't a penalty. To be a penalty it has to be very, very clear. Not like that."
Basel were complaining that Luiz should have been sent off just before his winner for a nasty-looking foul on Philipp Degen.
Benitez,
though said: "He was booked for it and that was right. It was a bit
late but he'd been fouled a lot and not got anything."
Luiz said: "To win with the last kick of the match was amazing but we ave to keep our minds strong for the second leg.
"I
want to go to the final. It is not finished yet, we need to play the
second leg and it is important for us. I want a title for my career and
for Chelsea as well."
Benitez, upset that Ashley Cole, booked for time-wasting,
will miss the return leg next Thursday, insisted his men must guard
against complacency.
He added: "We have the experience from
Tottenham (who Basel beat in the quarter-finals on penalties after a
pair of 2-2 draws), so we know they're a very good team who can score
goals home and away.
"We have to be sure to concentrate and do our
job. We can't be over-confident. We know that, if we play well, we can
beat anyone."
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