Chelsea

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After lifting the Conference League trophy in his first season in charge, Enzo Maresca joins a rich history of Italian managers to have won silverware for the club.

• Gianluca Vialli - League Cup, Cup Winners Cup, Super Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield

• Carlo Ancelotti - Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield

• Roberto di Matteo - Champions League and FA Cup

• Antonio Conte - Premier League and FA Cup

• Maurizo Sarri - Europa League

• Enzo Maresca - Conference League

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Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin says Wednesday's Conference League final turned on the introduction of captain Reece James at half-time.

James started from the bench but replaced Malo Gusto in the inverted right-back position at the break with the Blues 1-0 down and struggling.

"The entire game changed in the second half when James came on - Chelsea looked much more balanced," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It wasn't working for Malo Gusto because he isn't a central midfield player. A couple of minutes into the second half, James played a ball in from the right hand side, he just got into that area and knew how to play it. Nobody quite got on the end of it but the entire game completely changed in that moment.

"James looked better in that position and then the game started to open up. They have more power and strength than Real Betis and were always going to be able to keep on going and Chelsea are generally a better team in the second half."

James' England tea-mate Cole Palmer was named player of the match after providing assists for Enzo Fernandez's equaliser and the goal by Nicolas Jackson that turned the match around.

"There were lots of interesting one v ones - my favourite was Isco versus Palmer," Nevin added.

"Isco won the first half but Palmer hammered the second half. Those two beautiful, absolutely phenomenal assists he got were fantastic.

"Chelsea deserved it by a country mile in the end - but they had to work for it."

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Thursday's back pages are filled with pictures of Chelsea celebrations after the Blues came from behind to defeat Real Betis in the Conference League final.

The Star and the I focus on the fact Chelsea have now won every European trophy available to them, with The Star calling them 'Wroc Stars' in reference to the Polish city Wroclaw in which the final was played.

The Mirror labels the Blues 'Comeback Kings' after four goals in the final 25 minutes turned the final completely on its head while The Times opts for the angle of 'Winners at last' as Enzo Maresca secured the club's first trophy since the takeover by Tod Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago.

Newcastle are one of the clubs working on a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, 22, who also has offers from Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton. (ipaper - subscription required)

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

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After Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 to win the Conference League final, we asked you for your feelings on the victory.

Here are some of your comments:

James: Great for Chelsea to make history and what a brilliant experience for this young group. With Champions League qualification sorted as well, it has been a good season. Plenty to build on next campaign.

Carole: 'Blue'ming fantastic! Team and fans. Enjoy the fact that a) Chelsea won the Cup; b) we've won the lot! History boys! Proud!

Andrew: Really proud of Chelsea. Blew away Real Betis in the second half with four goals. Cole Palmer - absolute class.

Fossie: A second-half masterclass. Enzo Maresca made the changes that were required and what a difference in performance. Betis are no slouches, so to score four against this team was quite stunning. We've won it all. Well done, Chelsea.

Kevin: The quality of this was a hundred times better than the Europa League final. Palmer is immense, as were Chelsea in the second half. What a great end to the season. KTBFFH and roll on next season.

Keith: Feeling great, but the first-half performance was horrendous. Palmer was non-existent and then he had a mad 15 minutes in the second half and turned the game around. This will do the club a lot of good. We need to build on this win and go again next season.

Oluwatimileyin: It's a wonderful team effort right from the first game to the final whistle of the final. Really pleased for the boys.

Keep them coming! Were you out in Wroclaw for the victory? Let us know what the post-match atmosphere is like and send photos of your celebrations here

Come back to this page on Thursday for some more of your replies

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Pundits have been reacting to what winning the Conference League trophy means for Chelsea.

Former Blues midfielder Steve Sidwell, speaking on Sky Sports: "Look at the Chelsea staff and the players, you can see what it means to all of them. They are back to winning ways, it's what this club is all about.

"Enzo Maresca has had huge pressure from the day he walked in. There is huge pressure on you being at this football club, as a player and as staff.

"Getting that medal around his neck and lifting that trophy is huge for him."

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports: "The Chelsea fans are very demanding because they are used to winning. Now they have seen this team win they have more belief, the players have more belief. I feel like there is a really good era coming.

"Next season for Chelsea has to be improvement.

"They finished 15-points off champions Liverpool in the Premier League, so that gap has to be smaller.

"Will they be in a title challenge? We don't know. But that points gap is crucial. Keep moving and keep improving."

Commentator and former Leeds striker Lucy Ward, also speaking on TNT Sports: "People mock this trophy but this will mean a lot to this set of Chelsea players because it is a platform to move on into the Champions League this season.

"Can they win another trophy? Can they get close at the top of the Premier League?

"They will look back on this season in the Conference League, the development of the young players, solidifying some of the older players, and realise this actually means something."

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Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, speaking to TNT Sports: "To be the first club to have won everything possible, you can see the fans celebrating now and it shows how much it means to them.

"We knew they were going to be a good team, especially at the start with their fans pushing them on, but we knew it was going to die off. We just had to wait and pick our moments and that is what we did in the second half.

"Watching from the bench you can see where the spaces are and how you can help the team. When I came on for Benny [Badiashile] I could see he was working so hard and then the gaps were open. He did that for me, laid the foundations for me."

On the past week: "It has been amazing. We have achieved everything we wanted to do.

"It feels amazing winning my first European competition with Chelsea, hopefully many more to go. And getting Champions League for next season, I don't think you can get any better than that."

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports: "I am very happy. I was a little bit frustrated in the first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way.

"Also I expected a little bit, the happiness was a bit too much after Nottingham Forest because you go all season waiting and waiting [to achieve Champions League]. So we struggled a bit first half, second half we were much better and now we are very happy.

"The message after Nottingham Forest was, 'Guys if we want to be an important team then what we have done is done and we have to win the final.' But it's the happiness, the tiredness because we had 48 hours less than them, they played on Friday for nothing, we played on Sunday for a big, big target. So I expected it a little bit.

"In the second half we played much better."

On the importance of winning this competition: "I am very proud and very happy for many reasons. Personally I feel good but also the fans they deserve that, they have been waiting a few years for that so they deserve it.

"The club have invested a lot of money in the last two, three years so they are also waiting for results. Hopefully this can be a starting point. From tonight, from this season, building something important."

On aims for next season: "We are going to try again. Now we enjoy a little bit for one week, ten days, and then we start again.

On Jadon Sancho's future: "I said yesterday in the press conference. From now on we are going to sit with the club and decide what happens for next year.

"If we finish fourth it is also because of Jadon, if we win tonight it is also because of Jadon. It is normal in a season to go a little bit up and down, it is part of the game."

On not starting Reece James: "I promise you, I would always start with Reece but I am trying to protect him. He played more games this season than the last two, three years. He knows that, but he is a top player for us.

"For us he is like Cole, but we have to manage him. When I changed him he said to me, 'Boss don't worry, we're gonna win the game'."

Tell us how you're feeling about the win - and send us pics of your celebrations

After beating Real Betis to secure the Conference League, Chelsea have become the first side to win all of the European trophies and now have nine pieces of European silverware.

• European Cup/Champions League - x2

• Uefa Cup/Europa League - x2

• Cup Winners' Cup - x2

• Conference League - x1

• Uefa Super Cup - x2

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Pundits have been reacting to Cole Palmer's performance in the Conference League final after he became the difference-maker in the second half with two assists.

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports: "Cole Palmer is an absolute genius.

"We don't produce these players. They don't fall off trees.

"He took the game by the scruff of the neck tonight and there are not many players in world football that can do what he does.

"It's a privilege to watch him play football."

West Ham striker Michail Antonio, also speaking on TNT Sports: "The game was lost until Cole Palmer decided to turn up.

"He got on the ball, kept asking for it, demanding it. Two unbelievable balls, two unbelievable goals. What a player.

Ex-Blues goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "The balance of the team wasn't right until Reece James, Levi Colwill and Jadon Sancho came on.

"Cole Palmer changed the way he played at that point, and he was looking for those runs.

"Palmer has delivered and that's the difference. He is a young player, but has an incredible amount of maturity.

"He led this side and dictated that second half."

Did you know?

Cole Palmer is the first player to assist twice in the final of a major European competition since Marcelo for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the 2017-18 Champions League.

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Chelsea captain Reece James, speaking to TNT Sports: "It's a great feeling. As the game went on we grew into it and thankfully we scored four goals in the second half.

"Coming into this competition was something we had to win. Next season we go again in the Champions League."

On not starting the game: "Of course it is devastating to know you are not starting in a final.

"I want to play every game but it was the manager's decision. Once he made the decision, I had to move on and accept it and be ready when I was needed."

On his half-time words to his team-mates: "I thought in the first half we were flat. The game didn't go our way early on and it looked like it took a lot out of us.

"We needed a reaction in the second half and we got it."

Tell us how you're feeling - and send us pics of your celebrations

Chelsea recovered from a goal down to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final in Wroclaw.

It brings to an end a four-year trophy drought and is the Blues' first silverware under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership in Enzo Maresca's debut season in charge.

Betis dominated the first half and led through an early Abde Ezzalzouli goal.

But headers from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson - both superbly assisted by Cole Palmer - turned the game around in five second-half minutes, before a fine Jadon Sancho goal and a deflected effort from Moises Caicedo sealed the victory.

The result means Chelsea have become the first team to win every available European trophy.

Tell us how you're feeling - and send us pics of your celebrations

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter in Wroclaw

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca recalls Nicolas Jackson in one of five changes from the win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile also start, with Reece James, Levi Colwill and Jadon Sancho giving the Blues a strong bench.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson.

Subs: Sanchez, Bergstron, Tosin, Colwill, Acheampong, James, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Nkunku, Guiu.

Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis team includes Manchester United loanee Antony among a host of former Premier League stars.

Former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is only fit enough for the substitutes' bench.

Real Betis XI: Adrian, Gabaly, Natan, Bartra, Rodriguez, Cardoso, Fornals, Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli, Bakambu.

Subs: Vieites, Gonzalez, Perraud, Altimira, Lo Celso, Ruibal, Mendy, Rodriguez, Ortiz, Flores, Garcia.

Speaking to The Football News Show, former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot has his say on whether Enzo Maresca should revert to his strongest team for the Conference League final against Real Betis in Wroclaw on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, here's a look at Betis dangerman Antony, who is on loan at the La Liga side after struggling at Manchester United, with Pablo Montano from Diario AS...

Watch a special Conference League final preview edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

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Since Chelsea's sixth-placed league finish was downgraded to a Conference League spot by Manchester United's FA Cup final win over Manchester City last May, there has been an expectation for the Blues to reach the final.

Aside from a slightly dicey play-off round second leg against Servette, Enzo Maresca's side have done that with minimal fuss.

In the league phase of the competition, the Blues won every game by a minimum of two goals, and in the knockout stages every tie was settled by at least the same margin on aggerate.

In their 12 matches, they have scored 38 goals at an average of 3.17 per match, conceded nine times and averaged 62.5% possession and 92.5% pass accuracy - leading the competition in each metric. Their five clean sheets is also the joint most of any side.

The lower standard of Europe's third tier competition has also allowed Maresca to flex his squad and offer game time to fringe players and youngsters.

This is illustrated by Chelsea's top five goalscorers in Europe this season; Marc Guiu [six], Christopher Nkunku [five], Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall [four], Joao Felix [four] and Mykhailo Mudryk [four]. These five have just 15 Premier League starts between them - nine of which are from Nkunku. Felix departed on loan in January while Mudryk remains suspended after failing a doping test in December.

Dewsbury-Hall has perhaps been the standout performer - starting 11 of the 12 matches while scoring goals in the last 16 and semi-final - with the Conference League allowing the £30m summer signing a chance to shine.

Another benefit of the Conference League has been the opportunities afforded to young players. Tyrique George, Shumaira Mheuka, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Reggie Walsh, Ato Ampah, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Genesis Antwi and Kiano Dyer have all made their senior Chelsea debuts in the competition this season while Josh Acheampong made his first start for the club and Mathis Amougou also featured.

It has been a notable platform for George who started eight games, played in all 12 and scored his first senior goal, propelling him to Premier League opportunities.

In truth, Maresca's primary mission this season of qualifying for the Champions League has been achieved and realistically the result of Wednesday's final is not pivotal in the club's immediate future.

However, in a campaign where the Conference League has been navigated with ease - and exploited to its full potential - finishing with a first trophy for many in the young squad would provide a fine foundation to build upon.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter in Wroclaw

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Chelsea supporters in Wroclaw are expectant, not jubilant.

Sources at Uefa have said the club has not sold out its allocation of 12,000 seats at the Wroclaw Stadion, as of Tuesday night.

According to the eye test, they are outnumbered roughly two to one by Real Betis fans as you walk around the Polish city.

But that is not to say the Blues do not care about winning. The supporters demand success, or it will be three seasons without a trophy under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.

Chelsea's identity is about winning and, although Champions League qualification for the youngest squad in Premier League history is rightly celebrated, they need to add silverware to keep this demanding fanbase on side.

There is still trepidation about this project, both in terms of Enzo Maresca's management, and the direction the sporting directors and ownership are taking the men's first team.

Winning the Conference League would buy a lot of goodwill - but then the challenge would begin again next season, with greater success demanded domestically and with Chelsea back in Europe's elite competition.

Those demands are something Maresca, the players and the ownership all buy into, with the Italian coach saying in his pre-match news conference: "The Conference is important. For us, it's been important since day one. And the reason why is because it's the competition that we are in.

"We cannot play Champions League if we are in the Conference. Or we cannot play Europa. We are in the Conference. If we are able to win, I think it's a good thing - especially because we continue to build the winner mentality."

Rightly or wrongly, Chelsea feel above this competition - but they are also keen to win it.

How important is the Conference League final to Chelsea? Make your choice here

We asked you to select your Chelsea player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

And with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Moises Caicedo!

Here's what Will Faulks from Chelsea News, external said about him:

He is the only player in the squad who has been truly excellent for the entire campaign, and he has cemented himself as one of the league's top midfielders.

See the final poll breakdown

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