'Sensational' Basel celebrate with Chelsea

FC Basel 1893 defender Fabian Schär told UEFA.com they were "sensational" in completing a UEFA Champions League Group E double against Chelsea FC – who progress despite a dramatic 1-0 defeat.

The centre-back's raking ball afforded Mohamed Salah the opportunity to speed clear of the visiting defence to claim an 87th-minute winner as Murat Yakin's men emulated their matchday one success in England. Team-mate Fabian Frei added "a great performance" against the 2011/12 European champions "deserves respect", with Basel now needing just a point from their 11 December trip to FC Schalke 04 to reach the round of 16. Chelsea are already there thanks to Schalke failing to beat FC Steaua Bucureşti but defender Gary Cahill admitted disappointment was the Blues' overwhelming emotion.

Fabian Schär, Basel defender
It's simply fantastic, our performance. We played exactly the way we had planned. We were ready from the first second. We knew we could compete with them after the 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, but it's sensational to have beaten Chelsea, one of the biggest teams in the Champions League, twice.

I simply tried to find Momo Salah and put him in a good position, but that he had so much power and could finish so cleverly in the 87th minute is unbelievable.

As for the Schalke game, it's certainly no disadvantage that they now have to win while a point is good enough for us. But we already know how good a team they are.

Fabian Frei, Basel midfielder
It was a great performance, once more against a big-name opponent. We were unbelievably aggressive, and played very quickly and dynamically with barely any mistakes. Congratulations to everyone.

The fact Chelsea were somewhat more compact after the break and we had fewer opportunities, and yet we still believed we had a chance, says a huge deal about our team. To be so nerveless against a top Premier League club deserves respect.

Gary Cahill, Chelsea defender
We're disappointed. I don't think we played well enough tonight. I was impressed by Basel. I thought they were really good from the off. They gave us a lot of problems. But when you've gone that late into a game, with five minutes to go, we'd have taken the point and gone home.

The onus was on them, we expected that. We had a difficult game at Stamford Bridge against them, and it was the case again tonight. But they had the bit between their teeth. We'd played so well at the weekend too, but we didn't get going tonight.

As everyone knows, you can't afford to be below par at this level of competition, and I think we were below par tonight. We could have seen it out, but we didn't.