However, they were denied entry by the Football League after secretary Alan Hardaker advised them to withdraw as domestic competitions should be prioritized.

Chelsea won the first leg 3–1 at Stamford Bridge with Gianfranco Zola scoring the opener and Tore André Flo a brace.

Their place in the Champions League was secured on the final day of the season, beating fifth-place Liverpool 2–1 at home.

The game was dubbed 'the £20m match' as Chelsea were only ahead of Liverpool on goal difference before kickoff; a win for either side would see them qualify for the following season's Champions League at the expense of the other.

The goal would later seem by many as the most important in the club's history and said to be worth £1 billion, as many believe had Liverpool won on that day the subsequent takeover by a Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich would never have happened.

[14] The first leg of the semi-final however turned out to be a disaster for Chelsea as they were defeated 3–1 by ten-man Monaco at Stade Louis II stadium.

However, Chelsea's captain John Terry slipped on his run up for the final penalty and his shot hit the post.

Edwin van der Sar then saved Nicolas Anelka's spot kick and Manchester United were crowned European Champions for the third time in their history.

Numerous Chelsea players protested after the final whistle, most notable José Bosingwa and Didier Drogba.

The latter shouted into television cameras that the game was "a fucking disgrace",[18] and both players were handed bans by UEFA for their actions.

After eliminating Napoli, Benfica and Barcelona, Chelsea faced German side Bayern Munich, who would be playing the final at their home ground.

Two Bayern Munich players, Ivica Olić and Bastian Schweinsteiger, failed to convert their penalties.

[20] Nine years after their Champions League triumph, Chelsea were able to secure a place in the 2021 final, which was held at Estádio do Dragão in Porto against fellow English side Manchester City.