Chelsea

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We asked for your views on Chelsea's Conference League semi-final second leg win over Djurgarden.

Here are some of your comments:

Fossie: Not a great performance but a win is a win. With all the possession we had, we should be scoring more. However, it is good to see academy players being played, with six in the team at the end. The academy is proving its worth and we do not need to spend money to bring in more players. We will need a better performance in the final though.

James: Great chance to win this tournament and encouraging displays from the academy players for whom this will provide great experience. It would be a fairy tale if one of them netted in the final! I'm approaching it with cautious optimism.

Steve: The momentum is definitely going in the right direction. It was a controlled performance by Chelsea in a tie that was already won in Stockholm. In my opinion, it was a perfect night as we never used the bulk of our regular first-team players, who will be fresh for the important game on Sunday against Newcastle. Four games to go, win all four and it's Champions League football next season and another trophy in our cabinet.

Tom: Not the best performance, but it was a very young team, a lot of academy boys, so not too much to complain about. Bring on the final.

George: With the game virtually won in the first leg, it gave Enzo Maresca the opportunity to shine in the area that he is good at - blooding youngsters and then selling them at the end of the season. His management of the team in play was average.

Aston Villa do not want to lose £90m-rated England midfielder Morgan Rogers, who is attracting the interest of Chelsea, but the 22-year-old would be open to a move if the opportunity presented itself. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea also want to sign Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, with Newcastle among those showing interest in the 22-year-old. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very happy, the job is done tonight and now we have almost 20 days to prepare for this final and hopefully we can win this trophy.

On the 1-0 win tonight: "It's good overall, good performance with many young players. It is almost a second team. Very happy for the young boys and very happy to reach the final."

On Reggie Walsh: "How good is he? You can see that he is a good player. He is that kind of player that we like, very good. For sure he is young and he has many things to do and to grow. Very happy for him, very happy for his family and he has to enjoy this moment."

On the young players taking their moment: "It's important for them, it's important for us, it's important for the rest. We have three more Premier League games before the final, we can be focused on that and then hopefully we can win the title."

On the momentum Chelsea have created: "We are in a good mood, a good run of results but now we have another game in less than 72 hours so we have to focus on that. [Newcastle] is a huge game. We have three more games and they are all important."

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Chelsea captain Reece James, speaking to TNT Sports: "We're happy. We're in another final but it is probably something we expected coming into the game and we expect to win the competition as well. Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement."

On having a run of games to get back to his best: "I'm enjoying it. I've spent a lot of time on the sidelines and this is probably the longest spell I have spent being healthy in two or three seasons, so I'm happy to be playing on a regular basis and helping the team where I can."

On whether the club is going in the right direction: "We are definitely moving in the right direction. We're knocking on the door for Champions League next season, the table is tight and I have no doubts. We had a good result against Liverpool and hopefully we can keep momentum going and finish the season strongly."

On academy players: "It's great to help the young players, they are amazing talents, that's why they are here and I help them where I can."

On Reggie Walsh: "I've seen him in training but training and games is different but this is the first time I have seen him play. I didn't realise how good he actually was."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Three English teams feature in Thursday's Europa League and Conference League semi-final second legs, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

Europa League

• Manchester United (3) v Athletic Bilbao (0) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Bodo/Glimt (1) v Tottenham (3) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Conference League

• Chelsea (4) v Djurgarden (1)

• Fiorentina (1) v Real Betis (2)

All kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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The pressure can be very, very high for a game like Newcastle and Chelsea this weekend.

It is that idea of it being a six-pointer - which is such a cliche thing - but it does matter at the end of the season because you know you are not going to play them again.

This is the moment to gain something or take away from the opponent. As a consequence, there is pressure on it.

The fans are aware of that. After this, they will only have two games left. So any sort of issues that come from losing this game, they know they will not really have the time to fix and will have to look elsewhere at results.

The teams being on the same amount of points right now just adds to that. So while there is pressure, it is more of an exciting pressure because you are playing for something really significant.

Both sides can still qualify for Champions League football but it is a great opportunity to get ahead of the other. With the quality they have, both teams will believe that if they finish this match in front, they will not be caught.

At this point of the season, results are definitive. Wherever clubs finish, they deserve to be there because they have been able to manage these moments and manage these big games.

Players going into this fixture know it will be tough because they are facing a team that is good as theirs with quality players and with difference-makers on the bench. They also know if they are playing away from home that the crowd is going to be hostile. Not just casually hostile, but ridiculously hostile, because they know how big the game is as well.

It is in the preparation. Both sides need to give themselves the best chance of playing as well as they can - individually and collectively - to get the win. Even though it is three points, it will feel bigger.

It is going to be pressure-packed, but it will be a great game of football because the players will play as if it is the last game they are ever going to play.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Chelsea have an interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick, 29, this summer. (Caught Offside), external

The Blues are also leading the race to sign Bournemouth and Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen, 20. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Chelsea won the first leg 4-1 in Sweden last week.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca reported no new injury problems while Marc Guiu is "very close to being back" but the Chelsea boss said his striker may benefit from more training sessions before returning.

• On player of the season Moises Caicedo: "He has done well since day one. He's working very hard. The way he behaves is a good example for his team-mates and for the younger players, even though he is very young."

• Maresca said it is "very important for different reasons" that Chelsea go on to take the Conference League title: "The main one is we want this club winning trophies. It's important personally, but it's more important for the club and the fans. Chelsea can become the first club to win all European competitions so that would be good for the club."

• Maresca was asked about the players in his squad who have not yet won a major prize and whether winning the Conference League will give them hunger for more trophies: "Day by day, you have to build the winning mentality. The competition we're in at the moment is the Conference League and we have to try to win this competition. Hopefully, in the future we can be in different competitions, but at the moment, the reality is the reality."

• On how Blues have dealt with being favourites to win the competition for much of the season: "When you join a competition or you're in a game where you're under pressure to win, it's not the same. You have to do the job and the most important thing is also to convince the players that there are no easy games. Any game can be tricky."

• He said experiences from the previous round when Chelsea won convincingly in Poland against Legia Warsaw but lost the return leg at Stamford Bridge will be handy: "That experience is hopefully going to help all of us. We will try to do our job tomorrow, play a good game, try to win again and continue to build momentum."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Chelsea take a 4-1 lead into Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge - but goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has said a spot in the final is not being taken for granted.

"It's full focus," he said. "We will take it as seriously as any other game. At the end of the day, it's the semi-final of a European competition and we want to be in the final.

"I don't think any of us think this is done yet. We have 90 minutes left to play, we're going to give it our all and we want to win this game as well."

Jorgensen was at Spanish club Villarreal when they won the 2021 Europa League and, although he was not in the squad for the final victory over Manchester United, it is an experience he has gained a lot from.

The 23-year-old added: "I saw a lot of things when we won that competition - also emotionally and how every player was so happy to win a trophy. [I thought] I want to be there one day and hopefully we can do it this year."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger

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Chelsea fans celebrated a rare win against the champions but this was far from a full-fat Liverpool side. In fact, they were a shadow of themselves in those first 65 minutes.

It was no surprise to see Liverpool in limp mode, in that they had little to play for and the entire first-choice midfield had been surgically removed pre-match by Arne Slot.

Is it harsh to suggest Chelsea are still a distance from being serious contenders when they won 3-1 against Liverpool Lite? The answer is still yes - the 22-point gap is the far more relevant statistic.

That said, the return to form of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke, alongside a brilliant display by Romeo Lavia, means they are coming into form at just the right time for the top five race down the home straight.

Even so, there will be a few new faces at the Bridge next season. There is always continuous change from owners Clearlake, so you never know what might happen. At the end of the weekend, the important thing is that the battle for the top five is closer than ever.

Chelsea visit another bogey club next week in Newcastle United, who are on the same points tally. I suspect Eddie Howe will not leave his entire midfield on the bench at St James' on Sunday, so this will be a much tougher ask for Maresca's men.

Whoever wins that one will almost certainly bag a Champions League berth.

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Cole Palmer was superb for Chelsea in Sunday's win over Liverpool, playing a part in the build-up of two goals and then scoring the third. He was the focus of much of the post-game discussion as he spoke to the TV cameras about his recent difficult spell and how he had coped with it.

But also vital in the victory was Romeo Lavia, whose problems have been a lot more severe and frustrating than Palmer's.

While the England international simply had a run without scoring, Lavia has had two full seasons of injury setbacks, which have prevented him playing. That is a far harder psychological battle to fight and it takes a strong character to come through.

It is a real sign of Enzo Maresca's faith in the Belgian that he puts the midfielder into his starting XI as soon as he is able. There is no need for him to prove his fitness and earn his place; as soon as he has the green light, Maresca restores him to the heart of his team.

It is easy to see why. After the win over Everton the week before, the coach praised Lavia's balance of attacking and defensive contributions, and on Sunday both sides of his game were in evidence.

He is excellent at winning the ball, keeping the ball, and using the ball. No matter what the state of the game or what his team need to do at that moment, he is capable of helping out to a very high level.

His presence in the team also allows Maresca to deploy Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in even more effective ways.

This win did not mean the race for the Champions League is over - Chelsea still need some huge results in their final three league games.

But with Lavia back and playing well, their chances have improved significantly

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea have learned how to get by without midfielder Romeo Lavia but, against Liverpool, they were also reminded that they are better with him.

The 21-year-old did not misplace any of his 23 passes during his 78 minutes on the pitch in the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

When Lavia came off, the away supporters chanted "you could have won the league" and "you could have signed for the champions".

It was perhaps a sign of respect from a fanbase to be critical of the £53m former Southampton man they missed out on in 2023.

The Belgian proved press resistant and is handy at picking up the ball from defenders and shuffling it through the lines.

His sheer presence seems to have given Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez a lift since he returned against Everton last weekend. It also took some of the pressure off Chelsea's newly crowned player of the season, Moises Caicedo.

The only issue with Lavia - and everyone knows it - is his fitness. His inability to play two matches a week has led to him not be registered for the Conference League.

However, even here there is light at the end of the tunnel as he has played 741 minutes this season, well above the 32 he managed in 2023-24 - but without completing a full match during his two years at Chelsea.

Lavia will be carefully managed but Enzo Maresca is understood to be optimistic that the midfielder's fitness record will continue to improve.

As for the jibes by Liverpool fans, Lavia appeared to lap them up because, as a kid who grew up supporting Chelsea, he enjoys being part of this newly rebuilt squad.

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Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw says the Reds could be shaping up for "a cup final on the final day against Chelsea".

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are in sixth, two points behind Enzo Maresca's fifth-placed Blues, after Monday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Forest host Leicester next weekend and then go to West Ham, before Chelsea visit the City Ground on 25 May. Meanwhile, the Blues travel to Newcastle and then face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

"Ideally, you want to probably get two wins before that and that would put big pressure on Chelsea," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday. "Then you might only need a draw because I think seven points will do it.

"That could be a cup final [against Chelsea at the City Ground] - whoever wins goes to the Champions League. On that final day, it could be an absolute cruncher of a game."

• Not a Forest or Chelsea fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport here

Coincidentally, Forest played Chelsea in their final home game of last season, and it proved to be a humdinger.

The two sides were locked at 1-1 going into the final 15 minutes, before Callum Hudson-Odoi put the hosts ahead.

However, Chelsea countered with two goals in two minutes from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson to claim all three points in a 3-2 win.

Reds fans will be hoping history will not be repeated...

Manchester United have told Chelsea they will have to pay £65m to sign 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho this summer. (Star), external

Meanwhile, the Blues are set to hold talks with midfielder Moises Caicedo over a new contract this summer, as reward for his impressive performances this season. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Chelsea gaining "momentum" at this stage of the season is "impressive" as "every game is a final" now, says fan and YouTuber Nina Hristova.

The Blues took three crucial points in their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge over newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday.

It leaves Enzo Maresca's side sitting fifth in the table, on the same points as Newcastle and three ahead of Nottingham Forest - both teams they face in the final three games of the campaign.

"When we have been so up and down, so inconsistent this season, to gain this momentum at this point has been so impressive. Credit to Maresca for setting us up the way he did," Hristova told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Yes, some might say it wasn't very 'Premier League champions' of Liverpool the way they played but, ultimately, I think Chelsea deserve a lot more credit. From defence, to midfield, to attack, we were very, very impressive.

"Cole Palmer was exceptional. It was the Palmer we have been missing in the last 18, 19 games of his goal drought. Palmer brings so much more than goals and assists in this team and he showed that yesterday.

"Even if he hadn't scored that penalty, I think we still would have all walked away and said Cole Palmer was perhaps the deserved player of the match because he was so crucial in the build-up. His through-balls, his vision, he is really, really like no other. A great boost of confidence for him.

"St James' Park anytime of the year is a difficult place to go, but every game is a final. We are competing with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, so we can definitely go there with a bit of confidence."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: Excellent from Chelsea. The chips were down, but they came up with a performance. Enzo Fernandez is now more of an attacking threat from midfield, Romeo Lavia's return has added to the team, and Cole Palmer is on song again. Very encouraging that our fate is in our own hands with key trips to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest yet to come. Hang on in there!

Jeremy: I've criticised Enzo Maresca multiple times, so it's only right I praise him for the way the team shaped up and played. We completely played the champions off the park, and it arguably could have been more. A massive win for our top-five dreams.

Sam: That's the Chelsea I know. The best performance of the season when we needed it the most. Another three more performances like that in the league and we can look forward to the Champions League.

Nick: Great to see Chelsea continuing with their more aggressive and attacking style again, which worked well against Fulham and Everton. A very good team display and excellent performances from (among others) Palmer, Noni Madueke, Lavia, Marc Cucurella and the - much underrated - Trevoh Chalobah. Still need three wins to achieve a top five spot, however.

Cuthbert: Impressive and decisive performance from Chelsea. It is hard to believe that it has been the same team that has struggled since the start of 2025. However, Latia is the answer and as a Chelsea fan, I wish him full fitness forever. With the arrival of Andre Santos, Chelsea should just prioritise the striker, central defender and goalkeeper for the future.

Tom: There has been a lot of anti-Maresca sentiment from the fanbase - at times rightly so - however, we have a home league record to be proud of and in the past five to six games, we have shown that when the pressure is on, we can respond. That is a testament to the players and the management. We need experience. Maresca has said as much but if we finish in a Champions League spot and with a trophy, he has earned the right to have a second crack at building a team for our future.

Derireed: To all those hypercritical Chelsea fans who are blind to the bigger picture, you can start to eat your humble pie. That talented squad is still learning, including Maresca. I hope he gets to continue to work with the same lads next season. We don't need any new players!

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says Cole Palmer's great performance in Chelsea's win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge broke a "bad spell" for the midfielder.

"Cole Palmer was absolutely outstanding," Murphy said on Match of the Day 2. "What a player. I love watching him play. He's just got such football intelligence and bravery.

"I know he's had a tough time and a bit of criticism but you wouldn't know it with this performance because he was the cataylst for everything.

"He doesn't mind trying things - and someone in the team has to take responsibility and take risks.

"I think Palmer really benefited from having Romeo Lavia in the team, because he looks to play forward often rather than safe and sideways.

"The more he got on the ball, the more he grew and more things started happening for him. He was even better in the second half than the first.

"Of course he is young and he is going to have bad spells. Even when you are not young you have bad spells, but he's a confident lad and I like that about him"

"I think he would get into any team in the Premier League and probably Europe too. He's just a wonderful player to watch.

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 here