Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has hailed Kepa Arrizabalaga after his shootout heroics against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kepa incurred widespread wrath for refusing to be substituted before Chelsea lost the Carabao Cup final 4-3 on penalties to Manchester City on February 24.

But the 24-year-old pulled off two fine saves as Chelsea edged out Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 in a shootout during Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg.

Asked if Kepa's penalty heroics washed away lingering concerns, Loftus-Cheek said: "Yes absolutely, I ran straight towards him at the end of the shootout.

"We obviously went down and he's pulled off two fantastic saves, one between his legs that he's just squeezed out. It's fantastic for him.

"I was so nervous on the sideline. But it just felt amazing when Eden (Hazard) put that last penalty away, knowing we're going to Baku for the final."