"It was a tough game and with a limited squad, I think we are doing reasonably well. The game was not very high tempo but I’m quite happy with the performance and proud of the players," he told UEFA after the match.
Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke had put the Blues 2-0 up at the break, before two Nicolas Jackson goals around the hour mark killed off the contest.
"We had a good moment at the beginning of the second half but then Chelsea immediately showed their quality," Honkavaara reflected.
Entering the final quarter of the match, the Iron Stoves pulled a goal back through Isak Mulugeta, who was also taking the positives from what was little more than a consolation.
"It was amazing to score my first goal for Djurgarden and in a semi-final against Chelsea; I can’t wish for a better goal." he said.
Mulugeta's goal was a rare moment for the Djurgarden fans to cheer - not that they relied on such moments. The atmosphere at the club's first European semi-final drew praise from visiting manager Enzo Maresca.
"The atmosphere was really good. I told my players before the match that they should be grateful to experience such matches, with such a setting," he said after the match.
"It was a fantastic. Their supporters never stopped singing, they sang to the end. It was a wonderful experience and we got a good result. So a good evening for us."
Honkavaara took the opportunity to heap his own praise on the fans in Stockholm.
"The atmosphere was unbelievable. The spirit the fans created, and how they supported the team in quite tough moments," he concluded.