Chelsea face transition period after Champions League exit, admits Guus Hiddink

Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has admitted that Chelsea will face a transition period without European football, after the club's exit from the Round of 16 of the Champions League on 9 March.

Chelsea, who had lost the first leg 2-1 to PSG, away in Paris, were pegged back early on after a goal from Adrien Rabiot. However, the Blues hit back through Diego Costa in the 27th minute to level up the proceedings.

In the second half, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored to condemn Chelsea to a 4-2 aggregate defeat.

With the London-based club currently placed in mid-table in the league, Chelsea may have to wait for some time before a return to the showpiece European competition. Guus Hiddink told reporters after the game:

"Chelsea are now in a transitional period and they now have to see how to go on to try to regain the lost terrain where they used to be."

Hiddink also lamented the club's position in the league, and conceded that finishing in the top four of the table looked difficult now.

In the other game of the night, Benfica defeated Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 away from home to clinch a 3-1 aggregate win.