Latest news with #Isco
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Real Betis star labelled ‘better than Cole Palmer' during Chelsea Conference League final showdown
A member of the midfield ranks at La Liga outfit Real Betis has on Wednesday evening been singled out for widespread praise online. This comes owing to his efforts in the ongoing Europa Conference League final. Betis are of course currently locked in action, in a historic European showpiece meeting with Premier League giants Chelsea. As things stand, the Verdiblancos boast a 1-0 advantage, owing to a first-half strike on the part of attacker Ez 'Abde' Ezzalzouli. The true star of the show, though, has been the man who laid on Ez's strike. Afforded his latest starting berth in Manuel Pellegrini's midfield this evening, Isco has rolled back the years to conjure up another wonderful individual display. Everything from the 33-year-old's touch to dribbling to passing and beyond have been of the highest standard. And safe to say, such brilliance has not gone overlooked on the part of viewers of the showcase in Poland. Droves of fans and neutrals alike, in fact, have taken to social media, to reveal the collective take that Isco is teaching one of the game's supposed best '10s', in Cole Palmer, something of a footballing lesson. Warra half from Isco. Showed Palmer levels — Blaugrana Boys (@BlaugranaBoys2) May 28, 2025 Conor Laird – GSFN
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chelsea quartet named in Conference League team of the tournament
Four Chelsea players have been named in the UEFA Conference League Team of the Tournament, chosen by the UEFA Technical Observer Blues won the trophy after defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the final on Wednesday Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer all made the team, despite Palmer not being named in the Blues squad for the league Betis midfielder Isco was named Player of the full team is as follows:Goalkeeper: Filip Jorgensen (Chelsea)Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea), Natan (Real Betis), Robin Gosens (Fiorentina)Midfielders: Svit Seslar (Celje), Isco (Real Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)Forwards: Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Afimico Pululu (Jagiellonia), Tokmac Nguen (Djurgarden)
Metro
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Enzo Maresca reveals what he told Isco after Chelsea's Conference League final
Isco impressed but Real Betis were beaten by Chelsea in the Conference League final (Reuters) Enzo Maresca had a special message for Isco after Chelsea's 4-1 win against Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday night. Chelsea went behind early in Wroclaw as Isco's excellent pass found Abde Ezzalzouli, who fired past Filip Jorgensen to put Betis in front in the ninth minute. Maresca's side stepped in the second half and Cole Palmer's superb ball into Betis' box found Enzo Fernandez, who headed in the equaliser. Palmer was the provider once again to help Chelsea take the lead as his neat turn and cross from the right picked out Nicolas Jackson, who scored with another header from close range. Jason Sancho, on as a second half substitute, put the tie beyond doubt with a brilliant finish to extend Chelsea's advantage. Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day 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. Moises Caicedo then wrapped up Chelsea's 4-1 win with another neat strike on the edge of Betis' penalty area. The win is a historic one for Chelsea as they have become the first club to win the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Enzo Maresca has won his first trophy as Chelsea manager (Getty) Speaking after his side's win, Maresca revealed that he sought out Isco to praise the former Real Madrid midfielder for his performance in the final. 'I told Isco at the end that he has a quality that makes the difference,' Maresca told Movistar. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Chelsea midfielder Fernandez also revealed paid tribute to Isco after speaking with the 33-year-old during the post-match medal ceremony. More Trending 'He showed all his qualities today and throughout his career, he has won many things, and I told him to keep going,' Fernandez said. Meanwhile, Maresca also revealed that he predicted Chelsea would endure a difficult first half in the Conference League final due to their tough 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season last Sunday which secured them a place in next season's Champions League. 'I expected it to turn out like that because on Sunday we played until the 100th minute to qualify for the Champions League,' Maresca said. 'Betis had played on Friday, I expected them to start strongly, but we adjusted at half time and then I think we were much better.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Arrow MORE: Enzo Maresca accused of lying by Chelsea legend after Conference League win Arrow MORE: Antony speaks out on Man Utd future after painful end to Real Betis loan
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Chelsea come from behind to beat Real Betis and win Conference League
Everything for Enzo Maresca's team hinged around a five-minute spell midway through the second half. In 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 team. Until that point and against a wall of noise from the Betis end, Chelsea were outplayed and pegged back by an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. EUROPEAN WINNERS!!! 🏆 — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 28, 2025 Then 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 them. Chelsea had gifted them the lead after nine minutes. Malo 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 corner. It would have been two moments later had Jorgensen not produced a fine reach to keep out Marc Bartra's curling long-range shot. There was the unmistakable sense of Betis, whose fans dominated the stadium in noise and number, having begun their first European final with the greater desire. Isco, 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 energy. Gusto, 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 ease. Reece James replaced Gusto at the break and slowly Chelsea began to squeeze Betis in their own half. Finally 65 minutes into the final they produced their first clear opening, or rather Palmer did it alone. 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 in. Chelsea 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 imminent. So it proved, Palmer's chipped ball to the near post finding Jackson who adjusted his body well and guided home with his shoulder. The shock clearly affected Betis who were beginning to tire following a mammoth effort. What 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.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Chelsea come from behind to beat Real Betis and win Conference League
Everything for Enzo Maresca's team hinged around a five-minute spell midway through the second half. In 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 team. Until that point and against a wall of noise from the Betis end, Chelsea were outplayed and pegged back by an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. EUROPEAN WINNERS!!! 🏆 — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 28, 2025 Then 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 them. Chelsea had gifted them the lead after nine minutes. Malo 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 corner. It would have been two moments later had Jorgensen not produced a fine reach to keep out Marc Bartra's curling long-range shot. There was the unmistakable sense of Betis, whose fans dominated the stadium in noise and number, having begun their first European final with the greater desire. Isco, 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 energy. Gusto, 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 ease. Reece James replaced Gusto at the break and slowly Chelsea began to squeeze Betis in their own half. Finally 65 minutes into the final they produced their first clear opening, or rather Palmer did it alone. 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 in. Chelsea 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 imminent. So it proved, Palmer's chipped ball to the near post finding Jackson who adjusted his body well and guided home with his shoulder. The shock clearly affected Betis who were beginning to tire following a mammoth effort. What 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.
