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| Chelsea Win Conference League: Maresca Urges Team to Use Trophy as New Beginning. |
Chelsea made history by winning the UEFA Conference League after a thrilling 4-1 comeback against Real Betis. But for manager Enzo Maresca, this victory is just the beginning of something bigger.
Maresca: “This Is Just the Start, Not the Peak”
The final took place in Wroclaw, Poland, where Chelsea found themselves behind at halftime thanks to a goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. However, the Blues turned things around in the second half, led by a standout performance from Cole Palmer. He assisted both Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson in quick succession before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed the win with two late goals.
Speaking after the match to TNT Sports, Maresca emphasized the importance of using this moment as a stepping stone.
“I’m very proud, especially for the fans who have waited two or three years for a moment like this,” Maresca said. “But I hope this can be a starting point for something even more meaningful.”
Historic Feat for Chelsea in Europe
With this win, Chelsea became the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup. They also became the first team since Real Madrid in 2014 to have four different goal scorers in a European final.
This victory also ended a stunning run of 27 consecutive wins by Spanish clubs in major finals, including World Cup, Euro, Champions League, and Europa League matches.
Short Rest, Slow Start – But Strong Finish
Chelsea had only two days to recover after securing Champions League qualification by beating Nottingham Forest. Maresca admitted the team struggled early in the game.
“We were still riding the high from Sunday’s win,” he explained. “We waited all season for that, so naturally there was a bit of a drop in energy. But in the second half, the team responded very well.”
Maresca revealed that his message to the squad was clear: “What’s done is done. The final is now. Focus.”
Captain Reece James Benched — Then Changed the Game
One surprise was the decision to bench team captain Reece James. But his halftime substitution helped turn the match around.
“Honestly, I would always start Reece if I could,” Maresca said. “But we’re trying to protect him physically. He’s one of our top players, like Cole Palmer.”
Looking Ahead: More Than Just One Trophy
Maresca joined elite company by becoming the first manager to win a major European trophy in his debut season with an English club—matching what Thomas Tuchel did with Chelsea in 2021. But Maresca has bigger ambitions.
This Conference League win is a moment of celebration for Chelsea fans. Still, Maresca wants the team to stay hungry and build on this success.
Winning a trophy is great—but now, Chelsea is aiming even higher.
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