Chelsea Win Conference League

London: Chelsea capped their season with silverware on Wednesday, defeating Spain’s Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland. It marks the first European trophy under the club’s American ownership and makes Chelsea the only team to have won all four of UEFA’s major club competitions.
The match began poorly for the London side, as Betis struck early through Abdessamad Ezzalzouli in the ninth minute. The Spanish team controlled a cagey first half, with Chelsea looking sluggish and short of ideas. However, the second half brought a complete turnaround. A flurry of goals, two assisted by Cole Palmer and scored by Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, swung momentum decisively. Substitutes Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo added two more late goals to seal the emphatic victory.
The Conference League title may not carry the same prestige as the Champions League or Europa League, but it represents a milestone for a Chelsea side in transition. Since the Todd Boehly-led consortium bought the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022, around \$1.3 billion has been spent on revamping the squad with young talent. The win validates that investment to some extent, especially with key performances from the newer generation.
Among the standouts was Palmer, whose pinpoint deliveries turned the game. His cross to Fernandez in the 65th minute was expertly headed in by the Argentine midfielder. Just five minutes later, Palmer spun past his marker and used his weaker right foot to deliver another perfect cross for Jackson, who bundled the ball over the line. The Spanish side never recovered. Jackson missed a one-on-one chance shortly after, but Sancho made no mistake in the 83rd minute, cutting inside to curl in a well-placed shot, his last act during a loan spell from Manchester United that could become permanent. Caicedo’s stoppage-time deflected goal capped off the rout.
Chelsea captain Reece James, returning from injury, came on at halftime and played a vital role in lifting the team’s tempo. “In the first half, we were flat,” he admitted post-match. “We needed a reaction, and we got it.” Despite not starting, James had the honor of lifting the trophy at the final whistle, celebrating with teammates under a shower of ticker tape.
For manager Enzo Maresca, who took charge only a year ago, the victory adds a significant achievement to his debut campaign. Chelsea had already secured a return to the Champions League with a fourth-place Premier League finish just days earlier. “We struggled a bit in the first half, second half we were much better, and now we are very happy,” Maresca said.
Betis, contesting their first European final, faded badly after a promising start. The loss ended a remarkable 23-match winning streak by Spanish clubs in European men’s finals dating back to the 2001–02 season.
The occasion was also marred by pre-match violence in Wroclaw. Polish authorities reported 28 arrests, with riot police using stun grenades and water cannons to control disorder caused by fans of both teams.

Chelsea’s win followed Tottenham’s 1-0 Europa League triumph over Manchester United last week, continuing an English sweep of European silverware so far this season. However, the treble is off the table, as Paris Saint-Germain face Inter Milan in Saturday’s Champions League final in Munich.
For Chelsea, the season ends on a high note, trophy in hand, Champions League football secured, and a young core beginning to click. For a club with grand ambitions, it’s a start they hope to build on.