Chelsea made history on Wednesday night by becoming the first English club to win all three major European honours, clinching the 2025 Europa Conference League title. Quickfire goals from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, one from Moises Caicedo, and another off the bench from Jadon Sancho, were enough to secure silverware in Enzo Maresca’s maiden voyage, as the Blues came from behind to defeat Real Betis 4-1.
It was a frenetic start at Wroclaw’s Stadion Miejski, with both sides playing at full throttle, with the opening minutes more reminiscent of a basketball game than a chess match. Real Betis struck first blood, though, with Abde Ezzalzouli linking brilliantly with Isco before firing home the opener in the ninth minute, making it clear Maresca’s men were in for their toughest test yet.
The Spaniards continued to dominate the tempo in the first half, moving the ball quicker and threatening to double their lead against the backdrop of a bouncing green and white stadium. Ezzalzouli came close again, flashing a shot over from close range. Chelsea, meanwhile, began to settle into the game as the half wore on but struggled to seriously test Adrian in goal.
That changed in the 65th minute. Cole Palmer curled in a superb inswinging cross, and Fernandez met it with a delicate header that nestled beyond the outstretched goalkeeper. The equaliser breathed new life into Chelsea, and just five minutes later, Palmer turned provider again – this time picking out Jackson, whose chested effort completed the comeback and sealed the trophy for the west London club.
Sancho came off the bench to add the cherry to the top of the icing on top of the cake with less than 10 minutes to spare, whilethe club’s Player of the Season, Caicedo, added a fourth in added time to prevent their Spanish opposition from coming out of the shadows to claim their first-ever European honour.
Chelsea Crown Perfect Week With Europa Conference League Win
They also clinched Champions League qualification
The Cole Palmer show on Wednesday night capped off a perfect week for Chelsea after their 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon also secured Champions League qualification for them next term. The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League on the final day, winning five of their final six league games to turn around a disappointing run of form earlier in the year.
All things considered, Enzo Maresca’s debut season has to be viewed as a major success, especially given their electric start under the Italian, when they briefly looked like Liverpool’s closest challengers for the title. While they fell short of pushing for the top spot, the signs of progress are clear. In the Todd Boehly era, it seems money might just be starting to buy happiness, as things finally begin to click into place for the West Londoners.