Chelsea make history in Poland
Real Betis 1 - 4 Chelsea
Enzo Maresca’s bold tactical reshuffle and astute use of personnel steered Chelsea to victory over Real Betis in the Conference League final.
Author | Lewis W
Stadium | Stadion Wrocław
The opening 45 minutes had offered little encouragement for the Premier League side. Betis were deservedly in front at the interval, with Isco orchestrating the first half and providing a no-look assist for Abde Ezzalzouli, who surged through to fire the Spaniards ahead inside nine minutes.
But the match flipped after the break. Cole Palmer was afforded greater freedom and, capitalising on the injury-enforced withdrawal of Betis left-back Ricardo Rodríguez, delivered a commanding display that earned him player of the match honours.
Palmer's teasing, dipping delivery from a central area was then expertly glanced in by Enzo Fernández just after the hour mark.
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Moments later, Palmer again provided the service, curling a ball in from the byline which Nicolás Jackson bundled over the line with his upper arm.
From that point on, Chelsea asserted complete control. Their intensity did not wane, and the influence of Maresca was again evident in the decisive contribution of his substitutes.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pounced on a loose throw-in, surged forward and laid the ball wide for Jadon Sancho. The winger cut inside and bent a clinical finish into the far corner, a goal that all but sealed the outcome.
There was still time for Moisés Caicedo to add a fourth, drilling home from the edge of the box deep into stoppage time to cap a dominant second-half display.
The win not only handed Chelsea the Conference League crown but also made them the first club to have lifted all of UEFA’s major competitions.
In addition, it marked the first time a non-Spanish side had beaten La Liga opposition in a European final since 2001 – a testament to Chelsea’s resurgence under their new head coach.
Maresca leads Chelsea to an ultimately successful season
A trophy and a place in next season’s Champions League. By most measures, that would be considered a successful campaign for Chelsea. But it very nearly unravelled before it had even begun.
Their European journey came close to ending in August. The Europa Conference League remains the only UEFA competition where English clubs are required to navigate a play-off round.
Chelsea appeared to be in complete control, leading Servette 3–0 on aggregate just 14 minutes into the second leg, having secured a 2–0 win at Stamford Bridge and added an early goal in Geneva.
But Servette struck back twice and, following a delay caused by fireworks being set off in the stands, the Swiss side came within inches of forcing extra time in the 94th minute. Chelsea held on.
In the Premier League, they ultimately achieved their primary objective: Champions League qualification.
Maresca has not been without his critics, but he has delivered. The challenge now is to build on that momentum.
