Grant savours 'special' victory May 05 2008
Chelsea manager Avram Grant says he is proud to succeed where his highly-rated predecessor Jose Mourinho failed.
Mourinho lost to Liverpool at the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and in 2007.
But Grant has successfully guided the Blues into their first ever European Cup final and he is basking in the club's new-found glory on the continental stage.
"There's only one special one," he joked. "But this was special against Liverpool. They are a fantastic team and Rafa played tactically. You need to be clever against him but we did it."
However, the Israeli coach was quick to point out the role Roman Abramovich has played in establishing the west Londoners as a force to be reckoned with.
Grant said: "We have created history and I am very proud we did it my way. But I don't like to say 'I' because (owner) Roman (Abramovich), he created this club, my staff are excellent, my assistants, everybody."
Grant, who has guided his team to a strong end-of-season charge on two fronts, praised Frank Lampard's efforts in trying times.
"Frank played very well and in my opinion was one of our key players today.
"It is not an easy thing, he is under...you know what he is under. He gave everything to the team."
Reds boss Rafael Benitez believed his men were in control when they handed the hosts the initiative in extra-time.
The Spaniard said: "I thought we were very close. We played well in the second half. But the third goal killed it.
"We had control of the game, we had two chances in extra-time and we were in control. And we were preventing them from creating."
Benitez insisted he did not regret his criticism of Drogba, saying: "I don't think so, when you play a semi-final in the Champions League I don't think you think about anything other than that."
Two-goal hero Drogba was ecstatic after firing Chelsea to the Champions League final.
The Ivory Coast striker scored the first and third goals as the Blues sealed a showdown with Manchester United in Moscow.
Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel netted for the Merseysiders but it was the Londoners' night.
Drogba told Sky Sports 2: "It is something amazing. Today we did very well. I am really pleased for the club because we've been looking for this final for too long."
He was accused before the game of diving by Benitez and Drogba admitted he was "disappointed" by the criticism.
"It's difficult as I said. Benitez is a fantastic coach and I was a bit disappointed but I think he felt his team was not strong enough and Chelsea were going to beat them.
"I am just happy for my team and I don't want to think about others. It's not good for my image. I'm giving my best to put my team at the top and I think it's not fair but it's finished."
Chelsea captain John Terry admitted he had not fully absorbed the scale of his team's achievement.
"It's fantastic, I think we've fully deserved it over the years, we've had our chance but I thought we made it hard for ourselves at the end.
"It has not sunk in properly. We'll enjoy tonight but it will take 24 hours to sink in."
Lampard scored a penalty and Terry paid tribute to the England midfielder whose mother died last week.
"What a character Lamps is. It has been a terrible week for him. I'm sure Frank will dedicate that goal to his mum."