Maresca’s opposite number Manuel Pellegrini has this to say.

“What happened in the second half? We played a great first half; we scored a goal, we had a couple more clear chances, but in the second half we were affected by injuries.

“The fans have been incredible, during the game and even after. This is what hurts us most: not being able to give them this title.

“We have qualified for Europe next season but I have to say injuries today really caused us problems. Against a team as powerful as Chelsea, that's always going to hurt you.

“How do the players feel? They are devastated. We couldn't maintain what we did in the first half.”

“I'm very proud, and very happy,” Maresca adds. “I know the fans deserve it, they've waited for a few years for good moments. The club has invested a lot of money so they've been waiting too.

“Hopefully, this can be a starting point and we can begin to create something important.

“The target for next season? We're going to try again. We'll enjoy it for a week or so, and then start looking ahead.”

This ends a lengthy trophy drought for Chelsea and is a first of the Boehly-Clearlake era.

Maresca is asked about the future of goalscorer Jadon Sancho, but won’t be drawn on it.

“From now on is when we sit down with the club and decide about next year.

“Jadon Sancho, if we finished fourth, it's because of Jadon, if we won tonight it's because of Jadon.

“It's also because of Robert Sanchez - during the season, everyone is up and down a little bit, that's part of the game.”

Maresca has a word on Malo Gusto, who was taken off at half-time for Reece James after a night to forget.

“Malo Gusto is one of my favourite players but the goal we conceded was from his pass,” the manager says.

“They are young players, after a mistake it doesn't matter and you have to continue. But after the mistake, he was out of the game.

“He knows that, and he's a top player.”

Maresca continues: “I am very happy. I was a little bit frustrated in the first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way. Also I expected a little bit, the happiness was a bit too much after Nottingham Forest because you go all season waiting and waiting [to achieve Champions League]. So we struggled a bit first half, second half we were much better and now we are very happy.

“The message after Nottingham Forest was, 'Guys if we want to be an important team then what we have done is done and we have to win the final.' But it's the happiness, the tiredness because we had 48 hours less than them, they played on Friday for nothing, we played on Sunday for a big, big target. So I expected it a little bit.

“In the second half we played much better.”

The Chelsea boss is dragged away from the celebrations to be interviewed on TNT Sports.

Asked why he didn’t start captain Reece James, he says, “I promise you, I would always start Reece but I'm trying to protect him. He's played more games this season than in the last two.

“He's happy, he's a top player. He's like Cole Palmer - but we need to manage him.

“When I brought him on, he said not to worry and that we'd win the game."

He adds that “we are going to try again” next season - only two tiers up, in the Champions League.

Maresca is asked about the future of goalscorer Jadon Sancho, but won’t be drawn on it.

“From now on is when we sit down with the club and decide about next year.

“Jadon Sancho, if we finished fourth, it's because of Jadon, if we won tonight it's because of Jadon.

“It's also because of Robert Sanchez - during the season, everyone is up and down a little bit, that's part of the game.”