Basel coach Murat Yakin has said that his team believe they can overcome Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final.

The Swiss side, who beat Tottenham Hotspur in the previous round, welcome Rafael Benitez's side to St Jakob-Park for the first leg this evening.

Yakin said that his team need to be at their best in both matches if they are to progress to the final on May 15.

"We are very close to the final," Yakin told reporters. "I started this campaign at Videoton when we were last in the group. I have tried to present my vision to the team, one I hoped could lead the way to the final in Amsterdam.

"Now we are so close that we can reach it in two games.

"We have played some good matches at home, which we deserved to win. Now we need two very good performances, or one very good one and one average, to make it to the final – we believe we can do it."

Basel have never reached this stage of a European competition before.