Chelsea has a chance to make history when it faces Benfica in the Europa League final Wednesday.
Despite a disappointing season, the English side could be the first club ever to hold both the Champions League and Europa League titles simultaneously; Chelsea will no longer hold the Champions league title once a new champion is decided on May 25.
A victory would also make Chelsea the fourth team to hoist all three of UEFA's major club trophies after Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich; Chelsea obtained the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and 1998.
"Every game was difficult but this is the final and I want to win. If we can do it I will be really proud because we have worked so hard in difficult circumstances," said Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez. "You have to give credit to all the people involved, the staff and the players."
He added, "Benfica are a good team and they have experience in Europe. In a final it is 50-50 and we will see what happens.
"We can make changes and they can make changes but in the end it depends on the players on the pitch."
Unfortunately, the team will have to play without Eden Hazard, who is still out with an injury.
"Hazard will not be available and, with John, we still have to wait to see how he feels," Benitez stated during a new conference Tuesday.
This will be the first European final in 23 years that Benfica participates in.
"I know it has been a long time since Benfica reached a European final," Benfica's Nicolás Gaitán told UEFA.com. "I know they are a team with a lot of victories in the past. Now we have a chance to achieve that as well. So in terms of history, the time is now. It doesn't matter if you win two games here or three games there, it's all about how you play and what happens on the day [of the final]. You have to do well on that day and nothing else."
Prediction: Chelsea pulls off the win with a 2-1 final score.
Start Time: 2:45 PM EST
TV: Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN Deportes
Watch Live Stream at: https://www.foxsoccer2go.com/
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