Di Matteo grateful as Chelsea oust rueful Benfica

Roberto Di Matteo, interim Chelsea manager
It was a tough game. Winning 1-0 away leaves you in a bit of a conundrum how to approach the game. We gave them an idea they could come and win the game. We didn't want to go too gung ho but we created enough chances in the second half. We are pleased to be in the semis.

We knew before the game we were going to face a good side and so it proved. They have a very good team and have shown it many times. We are very pleased. It was just the second goal that was missing for us. With the 1-0 lead they still had a chance, but we missed a lot of opportunities ourselves.

We play Wigan on Saturday and we have to focus on that first. Barcelona are probably one of the best teams in the world, if not the best. They have great players. They are going to be favourites but we have a lot of belief in ourselves. We have to perform at our best to beat them and we believe we can do that.

Jorge Jesus, Benfica coach
I want to congratulate my players. Even with ten men we were always better than Chelsea. We bow out full of frustration as we feel we were much better than Chelsea in both legs; we didn't deserved to lose. But I'm proud of this Benfica team. We don't go through to the semi-finals to face Barcelona but we are a better team than Chelsea. We played for an hour with ten and you did not notice.

I want to congratulate Javi García and Emerson, who were excellent in [central defensive] positions they are not used to. Javi García was sensational. We were without the whole back four tonight and had a makeshift defence, but unfortunately we got hit on the counterattack. Before half-time Chelsea had created very little and we were very positive throughout the game.

We are disappointed as this ends an excellent Champions League campaign. The players can take great strength from tonight, and will leave with their heads held high.