Inter had been knocked out at the last 16 stage in each of the last three seasons, losing to English clubs in the last two campaigns, but Samuel Eto'o's clinical finish in the 79th minute was enough to send the Italian champions through at Chelsea's expense.

Didier Drogba was sent off three minutes from time for what appeared to be a petulant stamp on Thiago Motta, as yet another Champions League campaign ended in acrimonious fashion for the Blues, and Mourinho's return to his former club was a special one.

The atmosphere was electric as the Portugese coach made his return to Stamford Bridge, and the former Chelsea boss employed an attacking formation which belied the defensive mindset expected from the visitors, who had a slender 2-1 aggregate lead to protect.

Both managers made one change, as Mourinho brought in Goran Pandev to form a three-pronged attack with Eto'o and Diego Milito in a side lacking a single Italian player, while Carlo Ancelotti replaced full-back Paulo Ferreira with Yuri Zhirkov.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull made only his third appearance in a Chelsea shirt, while Ricardo Carvalho was confined to the bench with Alex handed a starting berth at the back, but it was in forward areas which the hosts were ultimately found wanting.

The first half was a frantic affair, and the crowd were first on their feet after Florent Malouda cut inside from the left to beat Maicon, but proceeded to run straight into Lucio inside the penalty area and had his vehement penalty appeal waved away disdainfully by referee Wolfgang Stark.

Michael Ballack then had Julio Cesar scrambling across his line with a fierce low shot which narrowly zipped past the far post after Diego Milito had given the ball away very sloppily in his own half, but the visitors continued to look sturdy at the back.

Both sides defended stoutly as clear-cut chances were at a premium, and stunning blocks at either end, from Alex, then Maicon and Walter Samuel, defied promising efforts from Wesley Sneijder, Drogba, and Nicolas Anelka respectively.

Mourinho was left seething on the touchline after Eto'o failed to anticipate a long ball from Motta which John Terry neglected to deal with, and the forward was left to rue not taking the gamble.

Anelka then squandered a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the 42nd minute as Drogba slid an incisive through ball to the forward, but Cesar made a superb point-blank save with his legs to keep the hosts at bay.

Samuel was fortunate to escape the referee's attention after he hauled Drogba down in ungainly fashion inside the box, but seconds later the defender made a fine block to deny Frank Lampard from close range in a pulsating end to the first half.

Ancelotti remained a stoic presence on the touchline as Chelsea came out for the second half knowing that they needed to breach Inter's dogged defence to remain in the competition and the hosts showed all the required urgency.

Inter were put firmly under the cosh after the break, but a swift counter from Sneijder saw Eto'o through on goal, only for the striker to show a complete lack of conviction as Zhirkov was allowed to recover at the second attempt.

The visitors broke incisively once more on the hour mark as Sneijder dragged two Chelsea defenders out of position with a deft back-heel to put Pandev clean through on goal, but Zhirkov made a superb last-ditch challenge to thwart the attack.

Joe Cole was introduced at the expense of the ineffectual Ballack in the 62nd minute, but it was Inter who had the best opening as Sneijder slipped an exquisite through ball which split Terry and Alex, but Milito dragged a tame shot wide of Turnbull's far post.

The Chelsea keeper was again not tested as Inter carved out another clear-cut opportunity: Motta rose to meet a Sneijder corner with a powerful header, but directed it over the bar to hand Chelsea a reprieve following more slack marking in the 70th minute.

Salomon Kalou was thrown on by Ancelotti in the 73rd minute, and the Ivorian hurtled into the box at pace after he cut in from the left to evade Maicon, but Lucio made an imperious intervention.

The deadlock was finally broken 11 minutes from time, but it was the home supporters who were silenced as Sneijder, again instrumental, stroked a sublime through ball to Eto'o, who slammed an emphatic finish beyond Turnbull.

Drogba appeared to stamp on Motta inside the Inter box off the ball in the 87th minute as the forward ended another campaign in disgrace, and Chelsea were forced to confront another season of bitter disappointment, with their Champions League dreams dashed at the hands of a ruthlessly professional Inter.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport