Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez says finishing the season with the Europa League trophy will be an important achievement for the club.

Chelsea face Basle tonight in the first-leg of their semifinal.

"To win any trophy is important, to win a trophy in Europe is always more important," said Benitez, although he is resigned to the fact he will not be around for the next phase of this Chelsea rebuilding project.

"I am managing a top side and I think we're doing a good job. People can argue but in the circumstances, with the number of games and the problems, with the Africa Cup of Nations and Japan, you put everything together and we are there."