Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is determined to make history as his side prepares to face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday in Wroclaw, Poland. A win would make Chelsea the first club to claim all five of UEFA’s major men’s club trophies. The Blues have already secured the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup, and now aim to add the Conference League to their collection.
Chelsea secured Champions League qualification for next season with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The victory capped a rollercoaster first season for Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino. His youthful squad had been close to the top of the Premier League table in December before a mid-season slump, but they recovered in time to finish fourth.
Responding to critics, Maresca expressed his frustration after Sunday’s win. “All the ones that think they are the answer… were saying we are too young, we are not good enough. Unfortunately for them, they’ll be all wrong,” he said. Despite some criticism over cautious tactics, the Italian insists a Conference League title would mark a successful season and reaffirm Chelsea’s winning identity in Europe.
The final also carries personal significance for Maresca, who will go head-to-head with Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini. The two share a long-standing relationship; Maresca played under Pellegrini at Malaga and later worked as his assistant at West Ham. “I am where I am today thanks to him,” said Maresca. “He told me never to change.” Pellegrini praised his former protégé, noting, “With both Enzo and Willy [Caballero], I was sure they’d go on to become influential coaches on a global level.”
Real Betis enter their first European final with a strong squad, including the rejuvenated Antony, on loan from Manchester United, and veteran playmaker Isco, who previously won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Pellegrini’s men finished sixth in La Liga and hope to extend Spain’s extraordinary run in European finals. Since the 2001/02 season, every Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League final featuring a Spanish side has ended in Spanish victory—a run of 23 consecutive wins.
Pellegrini underlined his philosophy ahead of the final. “We all know that winning is always very important, but I think that how you win makes it even more important,” he said.
As Chelsea chase a place in football history and Real Betis aim to maintain Spanish supremacy in European finals, Wednesday’s clash promises to be a compelling encounter.
