"[I'm] very proud [of the development of the team]. If you look at this season as a whole, it genuinely has been an amazing experience for everybody involved. So whether you're a coach, a member of the staff, all the support team around the squad, all the players - it's been one of them memorable years. So a big credit for everybody and a big "well done".
"That [being involved with the first team] is essentially what the lads and the players are aspiring to. So when we play in these type of games and you come to Stamford Bridge to experience that type of game, whether you win, lose or draw, what you want the players to do is to get a feel and a flavour for it. They should be wanting more, they should be playing firstly in these type of games and at these type of arenas. The more experiences we can give them of these high level games, the better off our players are going to be for it. They should definitely be coming away from this wanting more.
"I thought we started the game really well and deservedly went ahead. I thought Chelsea from probably minute 20 to half-time were the better team. They had some territory and looked like they were on the cusp of scoring. We said to the players that there's going to be periods in the game where you're going to have to suffer and you're going to have to stick together and I thought we did that in that period of the first half.
"I thought that the first couple of minutes were actually okay in the second half, but then the sucker punch comes and the lad scores the header at the back post. Quite easily when that happens, when you've conceded a goal so soon in the second half, it's easy for your tails to go down and then to find it difficult again. But I thought the players responded really well and we slowly clawed our way back in to the game.
"I thought at the end we had some very, very good chances to kill the game off and the third goal should've happened, which would've made my heart a lot better as well. It obviously didn't happen and then probably similar to the City game where you're in those last stages of the game you've got to understand what it takes to get yourself over the line. So again, it's pretty special that the lads have been able to achieve that. It can't be an accident, can it?
"It's an amazing achievement by the players. Working with them every day on the pitch - myself, Colin [Little], Wolfie [gk coach Kevin Wolfe], the analysis team and all the support staff around it, obviously Phil Jones has been with us as well - it's just been a genuine pleasure. Obviously it's very challenging working with young players and there's a lot going on in their lives and in their football careers that you've got to try and help them with. But they've just been genuinely a joy to work with.
"I think what's been really nice it has genuinely been a group effort. Lots of players, all playing their part. Different types of games throughout the season. Coming in and out of the squad in these games. So I think it's even more satisfying because everybody's been involved and the team has achieved it, so it's been really nice."
