Chelsea Olivier Giroud scored a hat-trick as the blues cruised into the Europa League quarter-finals with an 8-0 aggregate thrashing of Dynamo Kiev on Thursday.

After a 3-0 victory in last week’s last 16, first leg at Stamford Bridge, 2013 winners Chelsea were even more dominant in Kiev despite manager Maurizio Sarri ringing the changes, thumping the Ukrainians 5-0.

The Premier League giants are bidding for a first trophy under the Italian after losing last month’s English League Cup final to Manchester City, and hoping to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

“We started very well. We wanted to start in this way,” Sarri told BT Sport. “We played a wonderful first half and managed the game in the second half.”

Giroud, who is yet to start in the Premier League in 2019 after the signing of Gonzalo Higuain, netted a first-half double, before Marcos Alonso slid home a third on the stroke of half-time.

Frenchman Giroud completed his first Chelsea hat-trick by heading home Willian’s free-kick just before the hour mark and is now the leading scorer in this year’s competition with nine goals.

Teenage winger Callum Hudson-Odoi continued his own fine Europa League form, slotting in his fourth goal of the tournament after racing clear with 12 minutes remaining.

But Sarri reserved special praise for England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who also impressed after being given a rare start.

“His potential as a player is very, very, high,” he said.

“Physically, technically and tactically he is improving. He can become one of the best midfielders not only in England but in Europe.”