After a turbulent season, history beckons for Chelsea in Wednesday's Europa League final in Amsterdam, where it will meet a Benfica team reeling from a devastating domestic defeat by archrival Porto.

The premature end to Chelsea's Champions League defense had threatened to leave a cloud over its entire campaign.

Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal as manager created a negative atmosphere that only got worse when the unpopular Rafael Benitez was appointed as his interim successor, but now, salvation is in sight.