It all came down to the final day of the season in a dramatic conclusion to our Premier League campaign, in a head-to-head for a Champions League spot away at Nottingham Forest.

It was Chelsea who came out on top at the City Ground, though, with an assured and mature performance, as Levi Colwill's goal early in the second half sealed a 1-0 victory and Champions League qualification. Our head coach feels it was well deserved for the efforts his players have put in since the beginning of the season.

'I’m very happy for many reasons,' said Maresca after the final whistle in Nottingham. 'First of all because I think the players deserved it. Since day one they have been working hard. The club, the players, the sporting directors, we’ve all been going in the same direction.

'We have our way, we want to reach results in the way we want to play. I think today the players were top because we also adjusted a bit how to work off the ball. This environment here today was not easy to play in but they dealt with that very good.

'I think from January on we played many good games, even if not many in the media were saying that, and today we achieved an important target for this club, so we are happy.'

Maresca acknowledged it was no easy task to get across the line at the City Ground today, with Forest a difficult opponent, as shown by the fact they started Sunday with a chance to reach the Champions League themselves.

But we overcame Forest on their own patch, to add the crowning moment to a season during which Maresca has seen clear progress by the Blues.

'It was very tough. [Manchester] City lost here, Arsenal drew here, Liverpool drew here, and Chelsea won. It is not easy. The players showed how good they are, the effort they have put in.

'We are in a business where people will judge us because of the results. Probably after today, if we were not able to win the game, some people would judge our season a disaster. But it was not a disaster, I’ve said many times before, this season was already good.

'We have gone from 12th three years ago and sixth last year to fourth this season, with the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League. So I’m very happy.'