Preview of Real Betis v Chelsea
Chelsea ended the impressive season with a chance to hold a conference league trophy tomorrow night in Wroclaw.
Blues entered the season’s number after another crazy transfer event and the arrival of Enzo Maresca as head coach.
But the Italians did a great job of spinning a team of big and small into a cohesive unit, doing well both at home and in Europe.
They finished fourth in the Premier League – after they were Liverpool’s closest challengers for most of the campaign – they ended in the conference league with Real Betis.
The third-tier European match was arguably helped Maresca in the early months as it provided him with the opportunity to use a team member he did not play in the Premier League.
Go one day 🏆🏅#ueclfinal pic.twitter.com/xbz9xtexzt
– UEFA Conference Alliance (@Conf_League) May 27, 2025
This approach doesn’t hinder Chelsea as they make the club’s light clubs more limited resources, such as Noah (8-0 win) and Clovers (5-1).
The knockout stage is also simple, leading to Chelsea’s end: the final conflict with Betis and the opportunity to make history.
Maresca said: “It will be a way to say we are back, we are the winning club in Europe and we want to achieve that.
“We will be the first club in Europe to win all the trophys [the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the Conference League] – This is important. ”
Tomorrow he will also be reunited with Manuel Pellegrini. Maresca plays in Malaga’s experienced Chile and serves as an assistant coach at West Ham.
He told uefa.com: “I think he is one of my father figures in professional football. I want to thank him today. I worked with Manuel for four years, two years as a player and two years as part of his staff.
“I appreciate our relationship and the advice he gave me. He told me to never change. He always said that players and managers in football are often anxious to change themselves, and he always told me that the best thing is to always be true to yourself.”
Pellegrini’s team failed to win any of the last five games after Liga’s sixth place.
Despite their recent struggles, they have talented teams, including former Madrid former midfielders Isco and Loan Manchester United Winger Antony.
Given his performance at Old Trafford, the Brazilian’s revival in Seville was excellent. He scored nine goals and provided two assists, and more importantly, he regained his confidence during tough times.
He told TNT Sports Brazil:[Coming to Betis] It has changed a lot because I need to find myself because of everything I have experienced in my personal life.
“As I said, what I wanted to do, but they didn’t seem to work because I wasn’t happy, I felt like I was willing to play football, I needed to find myself and be happy again because playing football is always something I like.
“I’ve had a tough time [at Manchester United ] When I no longer feel this happiness. I even always tell my brother that I tell him that I can never accept it anymore. ”
