Conference League Final: Chelsea defeat Real Betis as the Blues claim emphatic 4-1 victory
Following their Champions League qualification, the Blues have also been crowned UEFA Conference League Champions for 2024/25 season.
Goals from Enzo Fernandes, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo were good enough to seal victory for the English side in their 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the final. Meanwhile, Chelsea have become the first football side to win all of Europe’s three major titles
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca’s men and tactical switch catalysed the team’s comeback after going 1-0 down to win the Conference League trophy in Wroclaw.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
The Blues found themselves on the back foot throughout the first half, and taken to the knife after Isco, who masterminded the opening goal, delivered a superb assist to combine with Abde Ezzalazouli before he headed home on the 9th minute.
Malo Gusto would not escape Maresca’s axe as he was replaced with Reece James at half-time. Reece James being brought completely changed the rhythm of the game as the Chelsea skipper spearheaded the charge after Enzo Maresca’s tactical tweaks in the second-half.
Winger Cole Palmer was deployed to a freer role from the second-half, assisted by the substituted injured Real Betis left-back Riccardo Rodrigues, who was removed at half-time, produced a player-of-the-match performance to catalyse Chelsea’s comeback.
A promising cross from the half-space was never a chance Enzo Fernandes would miss after 65 minutes, which he nodded home to bring the Blues level.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
Almost five minutes after the goal, Cole Palmer curled in another from the byline which Nicolas Jackson turned-in and beyond Betis goalkeeper, Adrian, to put the Blues ahead.
Assessing the team’s positions, it appears that Chelsea never dropped their intensity or domination and kudos is given to their head coach as he lined up two substitutes to seal the victory.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made an interception on a pass before he overlapped and pass out wide to Jadon Sancho, who did nothing other than cutting in on his right foot and bent an unstoppable attempt into the far corner.
The Sancho’s goal assured that Blues that the title was theirs, but refuse to be complacent as they gave Betis no breathing space.
The fourth goal came in the injury-time courtesy, Moises Caicedo, who scored from the edge of the box to ensure that Chelsea became the first football side to win all three Europe’s major continental titles, and first foreign club to stop a Spanish side in any Europeans final since 2001.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
I Expected Slow Start − Maresca
During post-match chat with TNT Sports, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said: “In the first half, we approached the game in the wrong way.
“I expected it a little bit, because for two days the happiness was a little bit too much after Nottingham Forest.
“You go all season waiting, waiting. We struggled a little bit with that, but the second half was much better.
“The message after Forest was that if we wanted to be an important team, what we’ve done is done and we have to win a final now.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
“That was the message, but there’s the happiness, the tiredness. We played on Sunday for a big target, they played on Friday for nothing. They had 48 hours extra.
“I expected it a little bit, but in the second half we were much better and we were attacking in behind, which we didn’t do before half-time.”
So Devastating I Did Not Start – James
Chelsea skipper Reece James to TNT Sports after the game: “It’s devastating to find out you’re not starting a final. I want to play every game, but it was the manager’s decision.
“I needed to accept it and move on and come on if I was needed. In the first half, we were very flat.
“We needed a reaction in the second half, and we got it.”
Cole Palmer Made The Difference, Can Take Chelsea To The Next Level
After the full-time whistle, one of the few places Maresca was found was in the arms of Palmer. The pair were captured embracing each other before the celebrating Chelsea fans who just saw an individual producing a stellar performance to ensure the club lifted the trophy.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
With Real Betis beginning to tire and sit back, Cole Palmer seized the opportunity to move smartly into spaces left on the pitch by Betis players.
His two dangerous pass into the Betis box, converted by Enzo Fernandes and Nicolas Jackson, were moments of joy to watch.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis
The bigger the platform, the bigger the performance Palmer has on the pitch. He is a true meaning of a game changer and is a player who could take Chelsea and England to higher places in years to come.
Our Problem Was Injury – Pellegrini
According to Real Betis coach during the post-match conference, “What happened in the second half? We played a great first half; we scored a goal, we had a couple more clear chances, but in the second half we were affected by injuries.
“The fans have been incredible, during the game and even after. This is what hurts us most: not being able to give them this title.
“We have qualified for Europe next season but I have to say injuries today really caused us problems. Against a team as powerful as Chelsea, that’s always going to hurt you.
“How do the players feel? They are devastated. We couldn’t maintain what we did in the first half.”
Player ratings:
Real Betis: Adrian (6), Sabaly (5), Bartra (6), Natan (6), R. Rodriguez (7), Fornals (5), Cardoso (6), Antony (5), Isco (8),Ezzalzouli (7), Bakambu (6).1
Subs: Perraud (4), J Rodriguez (6), Ruibal (5), Altimara, Lo Celso (n/a).
Chelsea: Jorgensen (6), Gusto (4), Badiashile (5), Chalobah (6), Cucurella (6), Fernandez (7), Caicedo (7), Neto (5), Palmer (9), Madueke (6), Jackson (7).
Subs: James (7), Sancho (7), Colwill (6), Dewsbury-Hall (7), Guiu (n/a).
Player of the Match: Cole Palmer.
Conference League Final: Chelsea Defeat Real Betis