Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho is pictured before the start of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea and Galatasaray at Stamford Bridge in London, on March 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Mourinho watches his side march into the Champions League quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea are back where they belong – with the elite of Europe – after their 3-1 aggregate defeat of Galatasaray saw them reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

The 2012 winners advanced to the last-eight after first-half goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill sealed a 2-0 second-leg win at Stamford Bridge.

Two years ago, the Blues suffered the ignominy of becoming the first holders to exit the competition at the group stage but responded by winning the Europa League last term.

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But Mourinho told ITV: ‘We are there [in the last eight] – but it’s different from last season because last season was the Europa League at a different level.

‘To come from the Europa League to the quarter-finals of the Champions League is important for the club, important for the players.

‘We are a Champions League club and now we are among the best eight, the best clubs in the world, and we are there. The players deserve to be there.’