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ITV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Chelsea seal historic victory after beating Real Betis in Conference League
Chelsea's season ended in glory in Wroclaw as they came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final and deliver the first trophy of the Clearlake Capital ownership for Enzo Maresca's team hinged around a five-minute spell midway through the second that window Cole Palmer turned a match the LaLiga side had enjoyed by far the better of into a Chelsea procession, setting up headers first for Enzo Fernandez then for Nicolas Jackson just as the occasion looked to have overwhelmed this young Blues that point and against a wall of noise from the Betis end, Chelsea were outplayed and pegged back by an early goal from Abde came Palmer's intervention, and once they led it was a simple matter of adding goals from Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo, as Betis' energy failed had gifted them the lead after nine Gusto's careless pass through midfield was cut out, the ball breaking to captain Isco who reversed a sumptuous pass in-field to find Ezzalzouli who peeled away. The winger took a touch to make space with his right foot then with his left drilled in into Filip Jorgensen's bottom would have been two moments later had Jorgensen not produced a fine reach to keep out Marc Bartra's curling long-range was the unmistakable sense of Betis, whose fans dominated the stadium in noise and number, having begun their first European final with the greater a five-time Champions League winner but never as skipper, suggested before kick-off the game might mean more to his side than to Chelsea and in the first half there was no doubting Betis' extra who has had a poor season, was at fault again with an ineffective challenge to be robbed by Ezzalzouli. The goalscorer then bamboozled Caicedo before squaring it for Johnny Cardoso who from a glorious position blazed over. Pedro Neto then thumped the ball high and wide, a wild miss that summed up a poor Chelsea half in which they attacked at walking pace and Betis, superbly marshalled tactically by Manuel Pellegrini, coped with James replaced Gusto at the break and slowly Chelsea began to squeeze Betis in their own 65 minutes into the final they produced their first clear opening, or rather Palmer did it was he who spotted the forward dart of Argentina midfielder Fernandez, and his arcing cross from wide on the right that the World Cup-winner nodded down through the grasp of Adrian and were now awake and no one more so than Palmer, so when he picked up the ball on the far side of the penalty area five minutes later there was a ready feeling a second goal was it proved, Palmer's chipped ball to the near post finding Jackson who adjusted his body well and guided home with his shock clearly affected Betis who were beginning to tire following a mammoth was left of their spirit drained away when Sancho lifted a wonderful curling finish into the top corner with seven minutes left, before Caicedo drilled home a late fourth.
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Enzo Maresca names surprise Chelsea star as 'one of his favourite players'
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca surprisingly named right-back Malo Gusto as 'one of his favourite players' after the Conference League final. Gusto produced an awful performance and was hooked at half time as he struggled to deal with a number of Real Betis stars in Chelsea's 4-1 win. The Frenchman recently admitted that he was 'far away' from where he should be as a footballer. Maresca picked Gusto in his starting XI against Betis – with Reece James on the bench – in a decision which left the Chelsea captain 'devastated'. Speaking after the match, Maresca defended Gusto despite his 'mistake' in the first half which led to Betis' opening goal on nine minutes. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Malo Gusto is one of my favourite players but the goal we conceded was from his pass,' Maresca told TNT Sports. 'They are young players, after a mistake it doesn't matter and you have to continue. But after the mistake, he was out of the game. He knows that, and he's a top player.' Speaking to L'Équipe ahead of the Conference League final, Gusto said: 'In [my] first season [at Chelsea], everything was beautiful and rosy, everything went well. This year has been a lot more difficult. 'Especially from a personal point of view, for different reasons. It has allowed me to learn, especially to understand what my priorities should be. 'I am very far away from where I should be. It is my responsibility.' Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho scored one of Chelsea's four goals against Betis but Maresca insists no decision has yet been made on his future. Chelsea agreed to sign Sancho permanently for around £25m when they signed him on loan from Manchester United last summer. But they are able to cancel the agreement by paying their Premier League rivals £5m in compensation and reports suggest that remains a possibility following Sancho's mixed spell in west London. Quizzed about Sancho after the Conference League final win, Maresca said: '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. More Trending 'If we finish fourth [in the Premier League] 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.' West Ham forward Michail Antonio, working as a pundit for TNT Sports, added: 'I think Chelsea should sign Jadon Sancho. 'He has been an important factor to the squad, and in parts of the season he has been the catalyst for the team. 'I think he would be a good signing and would help them to keep pushing next season and what is to come.' MORE: Liam Delap agrees to join new club after Man Utd and Chelsea offers MORE: Joe Cole sends message to Chelsea over Jadon Sancho transfer from Man Utd MORE: Arsenal make transfer U-turn and plan to sign £54m star after Martin Zubimendi
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Four things learned from the Conference League final: Maresca and Palmer have answered their critics
Enzo Maresca has answered his critics once and for all The Chelsea coach has never quite shaken off his critics this season in a campaign that has seen as many lows as highs; but they will surely leave him alone now. Having dramatically clinched a Champions League place on the final day of the Premier League season he now has European silverware to put in the trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge – achieved in front of watching co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali. Even at half-time, with Chelsea trailing 1-0, the social media doubters were shouting loudly, wondering if the Blues manager had chosen the wrong starting line-up, not least his decision to play Malo Gusto, a full-back, in a holding midfield role. That was certainly not a successful move, with Gusto giving away the ball to hand Real Betis the opening goal. But Maresca's second-half substitutions, including hooking Gusto at half-time and bringing on club captain Reece James instead, followed by Levi Colwill and Jadon Sancho, changed the game in a remarkable comeback. It was Sancho who scored a stunning third in a 4-1 victory – after Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson had turned things around - and suddenly a miserable night became a memorable one as Moises Caicedo finished the job. Maresca can surely now rest easy. He'll be at Stamford Bridge next season – and Chelsea won't be back in the Conference League for a long time. Cole Palmer has proved some doubters wrong, too Palmer has had a remarkable season when you look at his overall stats, but a long period without a goal as Chelsea briefly lost their way in the Premier League sowed seeds of doubt for some pundits. There were concerns at half-time in Poland, too, after an anonymous opening 45 minutes. But then the former Manchester City man reminded us how good he is. Two stunning assists inside five minutes completely turned the game on its head – and reinstated Palmer as a football genius. That's how quickly football changes. Chelsea have a very unusual record – which may never be equalled Chelsea have become the first club to win all four major UEFA club competitions – the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners Cup and Conference League – and that's an achievement that may never be matched. Especially given the Cup Winners Cup is no more. Questions over the stature of the Conference League have been asked all season, especially with Chelsea often playing a second-string team in the competition. But winning it is an achievement. Chelsea have won seven of their eight major European finals – and they now they head to the FIFA Club World Cup. Isco reminded us that it's not only about youth It wasn't Real Betis' day in the end, but veteran Isco stood out in Poland at the age of 33, including providing an extremely clever pass to set up Abde's opening goal. Isco played the number 10 role to perfection, was the best player on the pitch for long periods – and was a joy to watch. There's a reason for that, of course. This is a player who knows how to win a trophy at the highest level. This was his ninth European final, having won five Champions League titles with Real between 2013 and 2022 and three European Super Cups. He has finally tasted defeat, but he didn't deserve it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chelsea and Cole Palmer storm back at Real Betis to win Conference League
The signings will keep on coming under this voracious Chelsea ownership but it is unlikely they will ever make a smarter one than Cole Palmer. This was his stage. Palmer stood up when Chelsea needed him most. Two gorgeous assists in the space of five minutes – one for Enzo Fernández, one for Nicolas Jackson – turned the Uefa Conference League final around and brought the west Londoners their first trophy since being bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago. The first of many? The predictability of the outcome did not make the feeling any less sweet at full-time. Enzo Maresca delighted in denying his mentor Manuel Pellegrini a first European trophy at the age of 71. Real Betis dreamt of a romantic finish after going 1-0 up but the financial reality took hold long before Moisés Caicedo made it 4-1 to Chelsea in added time. Related: Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 to win Uefa Conference League – live reaction It was a relief to focus on the football after two days marred by idiotic violence involving supporters of both sides in the city centre. Footage on social media showed riot police using tear gas and a water cannon to combat the disorder, resulting in 28 arrests and heightening tensions to an unnecessary degree in the hours before kick-off. At least there was a positive vibe inside a stadium dominated by the green and white of Betis. There was no disguising the sense of longing emanating from the Spaniards, their desperation for their band of Premier League cast-offs to rise to the occasion in the club's first European final. Chelsea, an incongruous presence in a competition never meant for squads built at a cost of over £1bn, were under pressure to match that desire. Word of them failing to fill their allocation hardly hinted at a club gripped by Conference League fever. There was a surprising heaviness to Chelsea, who ought to have had a spring in their step after clinching Champions League qualification by beating Nottingham Forest last Sunday. The shape was wonky, the touches were loose and the early tactical was won by Pellegrini targeting the space left by Maresca's system, which had Malo Gusto drifting inside from right-back to play as an auxiliary midfielder. It was not clear why Chelsea's strategy seemed to hing on Gusto's turn as a quarterback. The Frenchman, who was one of five changes from Maresca, endured a torrid first half and was culpable when Betis went ahead after nine minutes. A slack ball into midfield invited trouble and Isco duly meted out the punishment, swivelling on the edge of the area and confounding Chelsea's defenders with a beautiful disguised pass to Abde Ezzalzouli, free on the left and unchallenged as he drove a low shot past Filip Jörgensen. Chelsea were shambolic. Maresca had gambled in defence, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah preferred to Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo in the middle, but nothing worked. Simple tasks were beyond Chelsea and Ezzalzouli delighted in tormenting Gusto. Isco, a European champion on five occasions with Real Madrid, was also a joy to watch; everything went through him. Betis called the shots. Marc Bartra stepped out of defence and tested Jörgensen from long range. Badiashile made a vital block to deny Johnny Cardoso. Maresca, who calls Pellegrini his footballing father, grew frenzied on the touchline. Chelsea had offered nothing in attack and were booed off at half-time. Maresca used the break to correct his error of leaving out Reece James. The captain replaced Gusto, who retreated having produced one of the most calamitous performances in European final history, and gave Chelsea more poise. Still, though, there was little from Palmer and his fellow creators. Pedro Neto was irritable with himself on the right. Noni Madueke was quiet. Jackson needed better service. But Betis were less vibrant at the start of the second half. Marc Cucurella was doing well against Antony, who was in Manchester United mode, and it was a relief for Chelsea when Ezzalzouli limped off. The mood changed, Chelsea stepping up, Fernández and Caicedo taking charge in midfield. Betis looked tired. They could not get out. Palmer took over. His influence grew, culminating in the moment when he cut in from the right and feathered a cross into the middle, the ball floating away from Bartra and in off Fernández's head. Chelsea's superior pace and power came to the fore. Palmer was irrepressible. There he was again in the 70th minute, twisting and turning past the Betis substitute, Jesus Rodríguez. This time the cross was firmer; it found Jackson, who chested past Adrián to give Chelsea the lead. This was the only European trophy missing for Chelsea. They knew it was theirs when two substitutes combined, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dribbling through and finding Jadon Sancho, whose whipped a shot past Adrian. Caicedo then capped it off, firing in from 20 yards.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joe Cole points blame at Chelsea star for Real Betis' opener in Europa Conference League final
Chelsea found themselves behind just nine minutes into Wednesday's Europa League final and former Blues star Joe Cole believes one star was largely was to blame. Gusto lost the ball in midfield and that allowed Isco to play Abde Ezzalzouli in with the right-back out of position. Ezzalzouli made no mistake with a lethal finish across goal and Chelsea fans quickly took to social media to point the finger at Gusto. Cole was in agreement, saying on TNT Sports: 'we said don't do anything silly in the buildup. 'Chelsea if they build with a three and Gusto goes into that midfield position. 'It's fantastic play from Betis but something Pellegrini would have noticed. 'Chelsea lost the ball, it was a turnover and it's dropped to Isco and he looks up and he knows that space where Gusto was would be vacated. It's a lovely ball. It's a great finish.'
