PHIL NEVILLE admits Everton’s hopes of FA Cup glory have not been helped by Chelsea’s controversial Champions League exit.

And Stamford Bridge midfielder Michael Ballack admits the fuming Londoners are now desperate to end the season with silverware.

Everton are aiming for their first major trophy in 14 years when they clash with Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 30.

With the Champions League final taking place in Rome just three days earlier, Neville was keen for Chelsea to have the distraction of a second successive showpiece European encounter with Manchester United.

But Barcelona’s dramatic last-minute equaliser in Wednesday night’s second leg was enough to send the Spaniards through to the final.

And Neville now accepts Chelsea will now concentrate all their energies on overcoming Everton later this month.

“From Everton’s point of view we wanted Chelsea to get to the Champions League final because it is obviously three days before the final,” said the Goodison skipper. “From Chelsea’s point of view they get a full week’s preparation.

“It is the FA Cup final at the end of the day, it is the only competition they can win, the only competition we can win, so I think they will be well rested and highly motivated.

“They have great players and over the two games against Barcelona they acquitted themselves well,”

“I watched the Real Madrid v Barcelona game at the weekend and Real Madrid got annihilated and Chelsea did not get annihilated over the two games.

“They had the best chances to win the game so it shows how strong they are and how strong this league is.”