Football | Chelsea's Conference League final preview

Can Chelsea win another European trophy?

Chelsea have carried the air of serious contenders since the early stages of the competition and now stand on the brink of a historic achievement.  Victory over Real Betis in the final in Wrocław would see the club become the first to win all four major UEFA competitions.

Author | Lauren W

Under Enzo Maresca, the Blues have found renewed purpose in Europe, sweeping aside Djurgårdens IF with ease in the semi-finals.Their form has been formidable, with seven wins from their last eight outings across all competitions.

With Champions League qualification secured following a gritty but deserved win away at Nottingham Forest, Maresca and his players can now turn their full focus to European glory.

The impact of a Chelsea win

Chelsea plan to keep Maresca regardless of the outcome of the result.

They have offered the boss a five-year contract in an effort to establish stability, following a period of frequently hiring and firing managers since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in 2022.

The Blues have already outlined their transfer plans with Maresca in mind, prioritizing the acquisition of a striker and a right-footed left winger, with the possibility of signing a central defender as an additional option.

What about Real Betis?

Manuel Pellegrini won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2013-14 and is a good friend and mentor to Enzo Maresca. He has been in charge since 2020 and this could his second major trophy at the club after the 2021-22 Copa del Rey. 

Jack L, who has been in Spain for most of the season watching a variety of La Liga matches, told us: "Betis have been a decent team this season and they could cause Chelsea some problems. Since Antony signed on loan from Manchester United, he has been something of a revelation and has helped get Betis to this stage."

Some of the comments from those involved

The Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told the club's website: "The Conference League is important, and it has been important since day one of the season. The reason why is because it is the competition we are in this season. We are in the Conference League, so for us, it’s the most important competition and we have to try to win."

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also said: "We've gone into every game treating opponents with a lot of respect and you need to do that,’ said the midfielder. ‘I feel we've played really well in the tournament and done every job we needed to do. We only have one more job left to complete now."

What are the fans saying?

Lewis W stated, "The Conference League, which is UEFA’s distinctly third-tier competition, is certainly not something we would want to participate in again. However, having met expectations and reached the final, it is crucial that we win the tournament as well."

Peter added: "It's always nice to win a trophy. We haven't won a trophy for a while and it can help build a new mentality with the players and coaching staff."