Xabi Alonso saluted Bayer Leverkusen's "maturity and determination" following their dramatic victory over Inter on Tuesday.
The reigning Bundesliga champions climbed to second place in the Champions League table, after Nordi Mukiele scored a 90th-minute winner against the Nerazzurri.
Despite enjoying over 60% of possession, Leverkusen's five-match winning streak across all competitions looked set to end.
Nathan Tella struck the post, while Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah also went close as they struggled to break down Inter, who had not conceded a goal in their opening five Champions League games this term.
However, a goalmouth scramble in the dying moments culminated in Mukiele slotting home to snatch all three points.
And Alonso insists his side were worthy winners at BayArena.
"I think we played a very mature and complete match," Alonso said. "Against a team like Inter, managing emotions is crucial because they are a dangerous side with multiple playmakers controlling the game.
"It required a significant mental effort, but we successfully dictated the play, created many opportunities, and conceded just one.
"Yes, we respect Inter a lot, but we wanted the victory. We played our game with maturity and determination, and I believe our win was well-deserved.
"I always try to instil this mindset in my team: to attack until the very end."
Chelsea's 16-hour Conference League trip 'not normal', says Maresca
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said it is "not normal" for a player to make the 16-hour round trip to Kazakhstan to then play on Sunday night against Brentford.
The Blues are in action in the Europa Conference League on Thursday against Astana, facing a 3,700-mile journey to Almaty, in the south of the country.
Maresca's side will play at the Almaty Central Stadium, which is 600 miles from the Kazakhstan capital, because of renovations to Astana's home stadium.
Chelsea will land back in London on Friday morning, before preparing to face Brentford in the Premier League, hoping to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool.
"Eight hours is not a normal time for a game, but we have to go there, we have to play, and we want to try to do our best, thinking also about the next game," said Maresca.
The Blues are currently top of the Conference League standings after four games, with Polish side Legia Warszawa the only other side with a 100% record in the competition.
Maresca also said a number of first-team players will be rested for the trip, including Noni Madueke, with Pedro Neto suspended for Sunday's clash against the Bees.
The Chelsea boss also confirmed that defender Josh Acheampong will be handed a first senior start after a breakthrough in contract talks.
Youth players Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, Harrison McMahon, Kaiden Wilson, Richard Olise and Harrison Murray-Campbell are in the travelling squad.
"The ones that are not involved tomorrow, first of all, they're going to be training, and they have to train well," added Maresca.
"You never know whether we might need one of the guys who play tomorrow on Sunday. Ideally, we prefer not.
"We are going to land at 6am on Friday, and it's not normal for one of them, if they land at 6am on Friday, to play again on Sunday."
"But if we need [them to], they are going to make the effort."
Adding to the long flight, temperatures are expected to be at around minus 11, though defender Axel Disasi was not worried about the conditions.
"We just have to put on two pairs of gloves and be ready to compete in these conditions," Disasi added.
"We all know the conditions of these games, it's an eight-hour flight and minus 11, so download some movies to watch on the plane, be ready to fight and keep first place."
FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host
FIFA have confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup at Wednesday's Extraordinary Fifa Congress meeting following a vote.
The Middle East nation were the sole bidders for the finals in 10 years, with an online FIFA Congress voting in favour of their staging despite controversy surrounding the bid.
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will co-host the 2030 World Cup, with the first three matches of that tournament held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
The opening match of the 2030 World Cup will be played in Uruguay to mark 100 years since the inaugural 1930 finals when La Celeste beat Argentina in the showpiece match.
After that, the next two games will be staged in Argentina and Paraguay respectively, before the rest of the tournament is played in the three main co-host countries.
The agreement for South America to stage the opening games in 2030 - reached in October last year - paved the way for Saudi Arabia to be the sole host in 2034.
Australia, considered the only realistic challengers to Saudi Arabia, confirmed on October 31 last year that they would not be bidding.
The Football Association also supported the 2030 and 2034 bids, and is expected to issue a statement later explaining their decision.
De Pauw leaves Aston Villa after just nine WSL games in charge
Aston Villa have confirmed head coach Robert de Pauw has left the club after just six months in charge of the Women's Super League side.
De Pauw was appointed in June after Carla Ward stepped down from her role at the end of last season but has struggled for results since arriving in the West Midlands.
The Villans are ninth in the WSL after managing just one win from their opening nine games, with the 4-0 defeat to Arsenal last Sunday their fifth loss of the campaign.
In that match at the Emirates, Villa had seven shots, though none were on target, compared to the Gunners' nine from their 17 attempts, which has been the story of their season.
During De Pauw's short tenure, only Tottenham (22) and bottom club Crystal Palace (25) have conceded more goals than Villa (17) in the division so far this term.
But they have also struggled at the other end, with only nine goals scored this season. Only Palace (eight), Everton (four) and Leicester City (two) have netted fewer.
The club confirmed Shaun Goater will take charge on an interim basis until a new manager is appointed.
Goater's first game as interim manager will be a Women's League Cup match against Charlton Athletic on Wednesday.
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