Chelsea hopes Conference League triumph can serve as launching pad
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hopes that winning the UEFA Conference League can act as a starting point to a new era of success for the Blues.
Maresca's men roared back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to thrash Real Betis 4-1 on Wednesday to collect their first trophy since an American consortium bought the club from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022.
The victory in Wroclaw rounded off a fine first season in charge for Maresca, who also helped Chelsea secure a return to the Champions League next season by finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea captain Reece James conceded anything other than winning Europe's third-tier competition would have been perceived as a failure given the English giants' financial advantage.
In the three years since the consortium, fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and private equity group Clearlake Capital, took over at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea has splashed out over £1 billion ($1.4 billion) on transfer fees on promising young talent.
"The club invest lots of money in the last three or four years, so they are also waiting for results," Maresca said.
"Hopefully this can be a starting point and from tonight, from this season, (we are) building something important."
James came off the bench to help inspire a second-half comeback as goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo broke Betis' hearts.
"Coming into this competition, it was something we had to win," James said. "Next season we go again in the Champions League."
Victory also meant Chelsea became the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions after the Champions League, Europa League and disbanded Cup Winners' Cup.
"To be the only team in history (to win all four), it is a great feeling," said Cole Palmer, who helped turn the game with two assists for Chelsea's first two goals.
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