Enzo Maresca’s personnel and tactical changes masterminded Chelsea’s comeback to lift the Conference League trophy with an ultimately dominant 4-1 win over Real Betis in Wroclaw.
The Blues had floundered for 45 minutes and were deservedly behind at the break after Isco, who ran the opening period, delivered a no-look assist to tee up Abde Ezzalzouli before he powered in the opener inside nine minutes.
The beleaguered Malo Gusto was the fall-guy at half-time as the first of Blues boss Maresca’s changes. Reece James’ introduction in his place was much needed, and the skipper led the charge after the head coach’s tactical tweaks from the first whistle of the second half.
Cole Palmer took up a freer role from the restart and, aided by the forced removal of Betis left-back Ricardo Rodriguez at the interval through injury, produced a player-of-the-match performance to inspire the Blues’ comeback.
An inviting dipping cross from the half-space was too good for Enzo Fernandez to pass up after 65 minutes, with his glancing header bringing Chelsea level. Barely five minutes later Palmer curled in another centre from the byline which Nicolas Jackson turned beyond Adrian with his upper arm.
With the teams’ roles now reversed, Chelsea never dropped their intensity or domination and highlighted the work of their head coach as two substitutes linked up to seal victory late on.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall intercepted a throw before driving forward and passing wide to Jadon Sancho, who cut in on his right foot and bent an unstoppable effort into the far corner.
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The Daily Mirror’s John Cross joins Gary Cotterill as they look back at Chelsea’s win over Real Betis.
By now the Blues knew the trophy was theirs, but they were not in the mood to let Betis off the hook.
Moises Caicedo added an injury-time fourth from the edge of the box to ensure Chelsea became the first club to win all three of Europe’s major continental trophies – and the first foreign side to deny a Spanish team in a European final since 2001.
Maresca: I expected we might not start well
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Enzo Maresca believes that the bad run that Cole Palmer had this season will make him a better player.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca on TNT Sports:
“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.
“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.”
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Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo give their reaction to Chelsea’s Conference League win over Real Betis.
James: I was devastated not to start
Chelsea captain Reece James on TNT Sports:
“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.”
‘Gamechanger Palmer can take Chelsea to special places’
Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer celebrate after combining to put Chelsea 2-1 ahead
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
One of the first places Maresca headed to at full-time was into the arms of Palmer.
The pair embraced in front of the jubilant Chelsea fans who had witnessed an individual wearing blue completely shifting the momentum of the Conference League final.
Maresca knew it, hence why he was so quick to serenade his playmaking machine in Palmer.
With Real Betis starting to tire and drop deeper, Palmer seized his moment by moving intelligently into areas of the pitch where the space was vacated.
His two balls into the box, finished by Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, were moments of sheer genius.
The bigger the stage, the bigger the impact Palmer has on football matches. He is the definition of a gamechanger and is someone who could take both Chelsea and England to some special places over the next few years.
Build around him and he will repay you.
Chelsea’s Conference League win in pictures…
Chelsea celebrate after beating Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw
Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring Chelsea’s third goal
Sancho was on target in the 83rd minute from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s assist
Jackson’s goal completed a stunning five-minute turnaround to lead for the first time
‘Injuries caused us problems’
Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini:
“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.”
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
