Chelsea great Gianfranco Zola is full of pride over his role in the club's modern day success.

Zola, 54, was the stylish focus of a Chelsea team also emerging from years of mediocrity to begin the trophy hauling back in the 1990s. The biggest was the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 — and it has led them all the way to the very top.

Ahead of tonight's Champions League final against Manchester City, Zola told The Sun: “That was the beginning of what you see now.

“We were a team building and trying to catch up with Arsenal and Manchester United, who were the best in the country then. We were rising.

“I can only smile at the enthusiasm, the supporters... every player was so happy to be part of that team.

“Now it is an established team. Now when you talk about Chelsea you talk about one of the best teams in Europe.

“It's two beautiful stories in different ways. The club is much more settled.

“The front players will be key in this final. City are so good offensively because they can bring a lot of players forward.

“They attack very well, are organised and have so many variations in their attacks.

“But in their strength also lies their weakness.

“Because they bring so many players forwards they risk being put under pressure when they lose the ball.

“When you have good players at attacking space, like Mason Mount, Timo Werner or Christian Pulisic, or putting the ball into space, it can be a problem."