Sterling hails 'massive performance' by Chelsea to reach Champions League quarter-finals

Raheem Sterling said he was always confident Chelsea would overturn their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund after the Blues secured a 2-0 win on Tuesday night to advance to the quarter-finals.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Chelsea deservedly claimed the victory at Stamford Bridge which sent them through to the last eight, with Sterling levelling the tie just before half time and Kai Havertz scoring the winner from the penalty spot at the second attempt eight minutes after the break.

Havertz saw his first penalty rebound off the post but referee Danny Makkelie, following a VAR consultation, ordered it to be retaken after Dortmund players encroached the area. The German made no mistake the second time, placing his shot in the same direction but this time tucked the ball inside the post.

It was the sort of good fortune, Sterling said, has been lacking for Chelsea this season.

"It was a massive performance. We had to dig deep," the England international said. "We took our chances and recently we just haven’t had the luck. Tonight, we felt it as a team, we knew we could do it. Kai did it for us in the end.

"I have seen Kai shoot penalties all the time in training, and I was so confident in him, and he knew exactly what he was doing and I knew he would put it in the back of the net."

Sterling's goal was his 27th in the Champions League. The 27-year-old forward collected Ben Chilwell's cross inside the Dortmund area but a poor first touch almost ended the move. However, he kept the chance alive under pressure before lashing the ball into the roof of the net.

"I miskicked it and didn’t have a great first touch, but it landed perfectly for me and that set us on our way to build on the performance,"