Latest news with #CONFERENCELEAGUE
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
📷 Isco shows incredible vision to provide Real Betis' UECL opener
Real Betis made a perfect start in the 2025 Conference League final, taking just nine minutes to open the scoring. The LaLiga outfit took the lead through Abde Ezzalzouli's thunderous finish into the bottom corner, but the assist from Isco was on another level. Surrounded by two Chelsea players on the edge of a crowded penalty area, Isco somehow managed to thread a perfectly weighted pass to his left, leading to the match opener. ISCO ASSISTS ABDE TO OPEN THE SCORING FOR BETIS IN THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL 🔥 — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 28, 2025 The former Real Madrid playmaker now has eight goal contributions in his last 10 appearances in all competitions. It's no wonder he's been recalled to the Spanish national team after a six-year absence! 📸 Fran Santiago - 2025 Getty Images
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Will Mykhailo Mudryk receive a medal if Chelsea win the Conference League final?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MYKHAILO MUDRYK is Chelsea's forgotten man heading into the Uefa Conference League final. The Ukrainian was banned from playing in December after failing a provisional drugs test. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mykhaylo Mudryk is in Wroclaw ahead of Chelsea's clash with Real Betis Credit: Getty 3 The 24-year-old is currently banned from playing but featured in Conference League games earlier this season Credit: Getty 3 CHELSEA VS REAL BETIS - CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL LIVE BETTING TIPS AND FREE BETS FOR THE FINAL Mudryk played five times in the competition during the early stages of the season. The 24-year-old scored three goals and notched four assists in those games. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL STREET BATTLE Chelsea & Real Betis fans CLASH in Poland launching bottles & smoke grenades But he has not featured for Chelsea since netting in a 2-0 win against Heidenheim on November 28. The Blues take on Real Betis tonight in Wroclaw for the trophy. And Mudryk was a surprise arrival in the city on Tuesday ahead of the big clash. Will Mykhailo Mudryk receive a medal if Chelsea win the Conference League final? Under Uefa rules, every player who has featured in Chelsea's Conference League games is eligible for a medal. As such, Mudryk WILL be awarded either a winner's or runners-up gong after tonight's match. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK It is not known whether he will be on the field with his Chelsea teammates to receive his prize. The club could opt to give Mudryk his medal privately. Fuming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca delivers two-word X-rated response to critics in fiery press conference Why was Mudryk banned from playing? The Chelsea forward tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium in early December. Mudryk has insisted he never knowingly used any banned substances. He has been unable to train with the squad while suspended. The ban remains provisional but if found guilty, Mudryk could face a lengthy period on the sidelines. He stunned even his manager Enzo Maresca by turning up in Wroclaw earlier this week. CHELSEA RATINGS: Colwill gets perfect revenge on Forest but Sancho performance won't convince Blues to splash out £25m CHELSEA sealed Champions League football with a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest. The Blues have been absent from Europe's elite competition for two years but finally, the billion-pound boys will be back next season. It was unlikely source Levi Colwill with the goal to give Chelsea a boost of confidence ahead of flying to Poland for Wednesday's Conference League final against Real Betis. Find out how SunSport's Graeme Bryce rated the performances here... Dressed in Chelsea attire, £88million Mudryk rubbed shoulders with fans at a steak restaurant in the Polish city. Asked about the moment, which went viral, Maresca said: To be honest, I don't know he is here or is coming? "He is here? I don't know. I am happy for Mischa to be here." Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023. He penned an eight-and-a-half-year deal with the club, which runs until 2031.
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Nicolas Jackson told he WILL start Chelsea's Conference League final with Real Betis after serving red card ban
NICOLAS JACKSON has been told he will start for Chelsea in tonight's Conference League Final. The striker is desperate to make amends for Advertisement 3 Nicolas Jackson will start the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis Credit: Reuters 3 The 23-year-old hasn't played since picking up a red card against Newcastle earlier this month Credit: Getty He is currently serving a three-match domestic ban and will miss the first game of the next Premier League season as a result. But Blues boss And Jackson will be included in the starting XI in Wroclaw. Jackson was sent off in the first half of the huge showdown at St James' Park. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL The 23-year-old Ten-man Chelsea But they recovered in his absence to seal a top-four finish with Maresca told the media last night that Jackson is "in debt" to his teammate's over his red card. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And the Blues boss revealed the Senegalese international had apologised following the incident. Maresca said: "I think Nico is in debt with his teammates. Fuming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca delivers two-word X-rated response to critics in fiery press conference "And the reason why is because in that moment, Newcastle away was for us the most important game. Advertisement "And he left his teammates with ten players for one hour. "So for sure he's in debt. For sure he's a good guy. For sure he recognised the mistake. 3 CHELSEA VS REAL BETIS - CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL LIVE Advertisement BETTING TIPS AND FREE BETS FOR THE FINAL "He apologised to his teammates. That is very important. "And I'm sure that [in the final] he's going to do a very good game for us."
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Chelsea vs Real Betis tale of the tape: How Conference League finalists compare with Enzo Maresca facing ‘football dad'
CHELSEA are on the brink of history as they prepare to take on Real Betis in the Conference League final. Enzo Maresca will clash with 'football dad' and former boss Manuel Pellegrini when the two sides collide in Warsaw on Wednesday. 14 Chelsea are hoping to make history in the Conference League final Credit: Getty 14 They are up against a tough opponent in Real Betis Credit: Reuters And a win for Here, SunSport compares the two sides for what is sure to be a lively clash in Poland. But just who will come out on top? READ MORE IN FOOTBALL SEASON SUCCESS With both sides reaching the Conference League final, neither side can say they have fallen short in Europe. Yet they have also enjoyed good club campaigns – to an extent. Chelsea at one stage looked on course to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title before a dramatic Christmas collapse. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Most read in Football The Blues then faced a tough challenge to qualify for the Champions League. They eventually sealed a return to Europe's top table on Sunday with victory over fellow challengers Nottingham Forest. Inside Chelsea's dressing room celebrations after Champions League spot secured 14 CHELSEA VS REAL BETIS - CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL STREAM AND TV INFO And although they ultimately achieved their season goal, Chelsea undoubtedly made a meal out of it. As for Betis, they too enjoyed mixed fortunes in LaLiga. They ended up finishing sixth, sealing their place in next season's Europa League regardless of the outcome of Wednesday's final. However, fifth place in Spain would have been enough for Champions League football. Betis ended up finishing 10 points behind Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao, who took the last two spots. And although Europa League qualification will be welcomed by them, they surely would have loved to have been in the Champions League instead. 14 BEST PLAYERS Chelsea's squad is worth a whole £627MILLION MORE than Betis' – but there is always one man who stands head and shoulders above his teammates. Despite not enjoying the same success as he did in the 2023/24 campaign, Cole Palmer undoubtedly remains Chelsea's star player and danger man. The midfielder has taken up a deeper role in a more central position under Maresca, allowing him to dictate more of the play. Palmer's brilliant technique and vision means he is often the one keeping Chelsea ticking over in possession as teammates look to make darting runs through the lines. And if the Blues are to take control on Wednesday, he will need to be at his mercurial best once again – regardless of whether he scores or assists in the process. 14 As for Betis, they have been inspired in the second half of the season by a Premier League misfit. Brazilian winger Antony, on loan from Manchester United, has been nothing short of a revelation since moving to Spain. He has a smile on his face again after hitting the goal regularly, with fans also showing their appreciation and adoration. A permanent transfer now looks on the cards this summer. And Antony will be desperate to reward the faith shown by Betis by guiding them to glory in Warsaw. 14 TACTICS Chelsea have adopted a possession-based style since Maresca's arrival last summer, with players instructed to keep the ball moving as they inch their way forward to goal. Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 system, the Blues quickly become a fluid unit as players drift out of their regular positions to line up in a 3-2-4-1 shape. Whether it has been a raging success is up for debate, with Chelsea sometimes left exposed at the back while also failing to get enough players into the box to finish off a move. But Maresca's system has built some team unity, with his unquestionable plan on the pitch making the Blues a strong cohesive force when it finally clicks. 14 As for Betis, they too play with a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, it is much more old-school thanks to boss Pellegrini. There are few players who drift out of position, bar Isco as he floats around the final third before picking out a deadly pass. The wide men are encouraged to cut inside, with overlapping full-backs holding their positions on the flank. Betis are also happy to concede possession too, meaning there is a high possibility of them looking to hit with speed on counter-attacks against Chelsea. 14 TROPHIES As far as silverware is concerned, Chelsea are undoubtedly a tour de force. The Blues have scooped 27 domestic trophies in their time, including six titles. They have also enjoyed resounding success in Europe, with two Champions Leagues and two Europa Leagues making up part of their eight continental triumphs. And in 2021, Chelsea topped the globe by becoming Club World Cup champions. Winning the Conference League will not have fans bouncing for joy by any means. 14 Chelsea have had plenty of success in the past Credit: Getty 14 Real Betis' last trophy came in 2022 with the Copa del Rey Credit: AFP But it will see the Blues become the first-ever side to win every European competition, making it a worthwhile piece of history for supporters and players alike. As for Betis, they have one league title to their name… but that came in 1935. Since then, it's been a barren run despite winning eight other titles in Spain's lower leagues. They have won the Copa del Rey three times though, with their most recent success coming in 2022. And should Betis triumph on Wednesday, fans are sure to party into the night and beyond. BIGGEST SIGNINGS It's no secret that Chelsea have spent well over a billion pounds since Todd Boehly's arrival. In that time, the Blues have splashed out huge fees on the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk. But their most expensive signing remains the 2023 transfer of Moises Caicedo from Brighton. Chelsea spent a mind-blowing £115m on the Ecuadorian midfielder. That made him not only the Blues' biggest-ever signing, but the most expensive player in Premier League history. 14 Moises Caicedo cost a whopping £115m to sign from Brighton Credit: Getty 14 Denilson's £25m move in 1998 set a new world record Credit: Getty Images - Getty As for Betis, they are yet to top a record fee paid way back in 1998. They spent a massive £25m on Brazilian winger Denilson from Sao Paulo, which at the time also set a new worldwide transfer record. But he ended up being a massive flop, scoring just 14 times in 198 games while also suffering relegation to the second division. Betis have clearly been wary about spending big numbers ever since, having only ever spent more than £20m just once. That went on Borja Iglesias, who joined from Espanyol for £23m in 2019 but lasted just four-and-a-half seasons. MANAGERS Chelsea's Italian gaffer Enzo Maresca has one of the safest seats in football – and that was before he sealed a top four finish on Sunday. The ex-Leicester man was brought in to Stamford Bridge to provide stability while also moulding Chelsea's youngsters into English football's next great team. Despite reservations over his playing style, fans appear to have finally taken to Maresca thanks to his calm approach and desire to win. The former Man City coach isn't the most experienced either. But with time on his side, a trophy win in his debut season will only strengthen his position in the Chelsea hot seat. 14 Enzo Maresca worked under Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham Credit: Getty 14 Will the Chelsea boss be able to get the better of his 'football father?' Credit: Reuters As for Manuel Pellegrini, he has now been at Betis for nearly five years. Having enjoyed most of his success at Man City, the Chilean has helped build Betis into plucky underdogs. Pellegrini broke their trophy curse by guiding them to the 2022 Copa del Rey. And he remains a wildly popular figure with fans and players alike, having resurrected the careers of fallen men like Isco and Antony. Pellegrini also knows Chelsea boss Maresca well, having coached him at Malaga before appointing him as assistant boss at West Ham. And it should be a fascinating battle between the pair, with Maresca warmly branding Pellegrini his 'football father.'
