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Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Chelsea ease into Conference League final against Betis
Teenage midfielder Reggie Walsh became the youngest player to start a European game for Chelsea in today's match. (AP pic) LONDON : Chelsea will face Real Betis in the final of the Uefa Conference League after a 1-0 win over Swedish side Djurgarden today sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory in their last four tie. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck the only goal at Stamford Bridge late in the first half on a night 16-year-old Reggie Walsh became the youngest player to start a European game for Chelsea. The Blues can become the first club to win all three of Uefa's current competitions if they beat Betis in Wroclaw on May 28. 'Very happy, the job is done tonight and now we have almost 20 days to prepare for this final and hopefully we can win this trophy,' Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports. Chelsea haven't won a major trophy since the 2021 Champions League, but captain Reece James believes the club are heading back towards the top after a challenging period. 'We're in another final but it is probably something we excepted coming into the game and we expect to win the competition as well. Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement,' said James. 'We are definitely moving in the right direction. We're knocking on the door for Champions League next season, the table is tight and I have no doubts. 'We had a good result against Liverpool and hopefully we can keep momentum going and finish the season strongly.' Defender Marc Cucurella was the only player retained from the team that beat champions Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend as Maresca made sweeping changes to his line-up with an eye on Sunday's crucial game at Newcastle. The Italian has been criticised for his cautious tactics but he has fifth-placed Chelsea on course to qualify for the Champions League via a top five finish in England. Teenage midfielder Walsh made his debut off the bench in the 4-1 win in Stockholm a week ago as Chelsea seized control of the tie, but that result didn't deter some 6,000 Djurgarden fans from making the trip to London for the second leg. Dewsbury-Hall puts tie to bed Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George forced saves from Djurgarden goalkeeper Jacob Rinne before the two Chelsea players combined to put the hosts in front in the 38th minute. George threaded a pass through for Dewsbury-Hall who accelerated past a couple of defenders before sweeping in a crisp finish via the base of the post. That goal killed off any remote hopes for Djurgarden, the first Swedish club to appear in a European semi-final since Gothenburg won the 1986-87 Uefa Cup. Dewsbury-Hall had a chance to double his tally when he headed Malo Gusto's cross straight at Rinne, but the visitors rarely threatened with the exception of a long-range shot from Daniel Stensson that was tipped over by Filip Jorgensen. Chelsea will be strong favourites against Betis to win their first silverware since Todd Boehly's consortium took over from Roman Abramovich three years ago. Betis squeezed through to their first European final in the club's history after overcoming two-time Conference League runners-up Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate following a 2-2 draw after extra-time in the second leg in Italy. Manchester United loanee Antony beat former teammate David de Gea with a superb freekick as Betis, who won 2-1 a week ago in Spain, stretched their advantage on the half-hour mark. Germany international Robin Gosens headed in a pair of corners before halftime as Fiorentina turned the game around and took a 2-1 lead to level the tie overall. Antony though set up Abde Ezzalzouli to net the decisive goal in extra-time and deny Fiorentina the chance to play in a third successive final. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How Chelsea have used the Conference League to offer academy graduates their pathway
At 16 years and 200 days, Reggie Walsh can reasonably expect to keep his newfound status as Chelsea's youngest-ever European starter for a long time. Well, certainly a good deal longer than the previous holder of the title, Shim Mheuka, who held it for little more than two months. Such has been the way of things in Chelsea's surreal season spent easing their way through UEFA's third-tier competition, the Conference League. Advertisement Mheuka made his moment of history as a pleasantly surprising choice to lead Enzo Maresca's attack in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie away against Copenhagen; Walsh made his entry into the club's annals as an attacking midfielder in the second leg of the semi-final against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge. The fact Maresca felt secure enough to make either selection — in the Conference League knockout stage, no less — underlines the total lack of jeopardy Chelsea have encountered on their road to the final in Wroclaw, save for one nervy second half in their qualifier against Servette back in August. In the nine months and 12 games they have played in the competition since, the only discernible threat to their aspirations of lifting the trophy has been complacency. But that does not diminish the credit due to Maresca for, relative to all reasonable expectations, utilising the unique development opportunity a season in the Conference League presented to Chelsea and their vaunted academy. Semi-competitive football against vastly inferior opposition is generally a rarity during the meat of a season, and basically non-existent in the Premier League. Chelsea's anomalous presence in the Conference League has changed that but, as many have noted, this particular club has no shortage of senior professional footballers on its books. Giving homegrown youth a chance to shine is always a choice and Maresca has made it far more than many of his predecessors, even if circumstances have been much more amenable. Walsh became the eighth Cobham graduate to be handed his professional debut by Maresca this season when he replaced Tyrique George — the first name on that list — in the 88th minute of the first leg of the Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden last week. Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Ato Ampah, Kiano Dyer, Harrison Murray-Campbell and Genesis Antwi have also made their maiden senior appearances for Chelsea in 2024-25, all in this competition. Advertisement At no stage has Maresca given the impression that these are token minutes. 'He has almost your quality!' Chelsea's head coach joked with Joe Cole on TNT Sports ahead of kick-off when asked about picking Walsh. 'His talent is very good, his technique is fantastic. I really like him. Between the lines, he's good. You can see he has something. 'For sure, 17, 18, he needs to continue to work hard, but I like also his personality. He worked with us during the season and he's not shy. He's asking for the ball, he's shouting, he's talking. I like him, he's a good player.' Walsh validated that assessment on the pitch. Starting as the left-sided attacking midfielder in Maresca's system, the 16-year-old with a physique similar to that of Billy Gilmour five years ago moved around the pitch with poise and polish in the opening 45 minutes, knitting together passing combinations with Josh Acheampong and Jadon Sancho and winning several free kicks with deft drops of his slight shoulders. In the second half he shifted to the right and connected with George, picking good moments to make runs into the Djurgarden box that were not found. 'He was not worried at all, he was laughing,' Maresca said in his post-match press conference when asked about Walsh's reaction to the news that he was starting. 'I told him you have to play in the same way that you do in training sessions with us. Enjoy, ask for the ball, enjoy. And you can see that he was doing well. 'I love Reggie because he's that kind of player that, in my system, in the way I want to play, it's perfect. You struggle to find players so young. He's 16. One. Six. And you see how he was asking for the ball, how good he is on the ball. 'Now, for sure, the most important thing for him is that he continues to study, he continues to go. I ask him now, tomorrow he has to go to school. It's important for him, he has to continue on that. But for sure, he's a good player.' All the focus on Walsh risked obscuring the fact George and Acheampong once again played prominent roles against Djurgarden. The two teenagers rank fifth and seventh respectively in Chelsea's squad for Conference League minutes played, and both have grown in stature as first-team players. Maresca has many difficult decisions to make when picking his starting XI for the final against Real Betis, but neither should be seen as risky selections. Advertisement Mheuka and Antwi are not in that conversation, but both touched the grass again for real minutes from the substitutes' bench. With both captain Reece James and Marc Cucurella leaving the field early to manage their minutes, Chelsea's closing XI against Djurgarden had a startlingly young and homegrown flavour. 'We finished with Reggie (born in) '08, Shimmy and Genesis (born in) '07, and Josh and Tyrique (born in) '06,' Maresca added. 'So it's fantastic for the academy, it's fantastic for Chelsea, it's fantastic for the fans because the future can be important. It's a good feeling.' Next season will more rigorously test Maresca's commitment to integrating top academy talent, with Chelsea aspiring to be back in the Champions League and likely to compete in the Europa League at a minimum. There will be more signings this summer to further crowd pathways across the pitch, even if others depart. None of this is new at Stamford Bridge, where failing to build on a breakthrough is no marker of a young footballer's ability to forge a successful career. Nor will it diminish what Conference League football has done for Acheampong, George, Walsh and others. This otherwise highly forgettable Chelsea cup run has yielded moments they will treasure forever, and the experience they have gained may prove even more valuable than the trophy that is now within reach for Maresca and his team.
Metro
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Reece James hails 16-year-old star after Chelsea reach Conference League final
Chelsea captain Reece James 'didn't realise' just how good 16-year-old wonderkid Reggie Walsh was until his performance against Djurgården. Walsh played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea's 1-0 win over the Swedish club on Thursday to secure their spot in the UEFA Conference League final. The Blues next face Real Betis on May 28 as they look to get their hands on the trophy of the third-most prestigious European club competition. Walsh was singled out for praise after Chelsea cruised past Djurgården 5-1 on aggregate, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall netting the only second leg goal. England U17 international midfielder Walsh made his senior debut for Chelsea in the first leg, becoming the club's third youngest ever player. 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. In the second leg, Walsh became Chelsea's youngest ever starter in a European competition at 16 years and 200 days. Speaking after the match, James told TNT Sports: 'I've seen him in training but training and games is different but this is the first time I have seen him play. I didn't realise how good he actually was.' Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca added: 'How good is he? You can see that he is a good player. 'He is that kind of player that we like, very good. For sure he is young and he has many things to do and to grow. 'Very happy for him, very happy for his family and he has to enjoy this moment.' At 16 years & 200 days old, Reggie Walsh becomes the youngest player to ever start a European match for so young that he was born five months after John Terry slipped & missed his penalty in the shootout during the 2008 Champions League final vs Man Utd. — Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 8, 2025 Chelsea goalscorer Dewsbury-Hall also had kind words to say about Walsh after the match. 'I'm just here to try and guide the young players,' Dewsbury-Hall said. 'Reggie Yates is 16 and he was fantastic, composed. 'My job is just to tell them to play the game that got them there. You saw that with the players that played, very composed, very calm. That's a credit to the academy.' Chelsea were strong favourites to clinch the Conference League trophy before a ball was kicked this season and Maresca can't wait for the final. More Trending 'Very happy, the job is done tonight and now we have almost 20 days to prepare for this final and hopefully we can win this trophy,' he added. Maresca previously admitted that he was keen to face Real Betis in the Conference League final and the Italian's wish has now been granted. The Spanish side drew 2-2 against Fiorentina on Thursday night to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
TNT Sports forced to apologise after Reece James swears about 16-year-old starlet Reggie Walsh as youngster makes history in Blues' Conference League win
TNT Sports were forced into an apology after Chelsea captain Reece James was unable to contain his excitement following the historic appearance of youngster Reggie Walsh. The 16-year-old Walsh became the Blues' youngest-ever starter in Europe when he was named in the side that faced Djurgarden in the Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday night. Enzo Maresca 's side cruised to a 1-0 win on the night and 5-1 aggregate victory that sealed their place in the final later this month, where they will face LaLiga side Real Betis. But all the conversation post match was focussed on the nifty No 10, who was afforded the full 90 minutes of the contest. Afterwards, Blues skipper James waxed lyrical about the teenager's display. His praise so effusive that he appeared to forget he was live TV and blurted out an expletive when remarking on youngsters ability to replicate his impressive performances in training in a real game. 'I've seen him in training lots, but training and games are different,' he said. 'This is the first time I've seen him play in a game and I was like f****** h***, I didn't realise how good he actually was. 'Training is training and you can't judge too much what you see in training.' Defender Josh Acheampong, only 19-years-old himself, also reserved special praise for Chelsea's history maker, adding: 'It's the first time I've played with Reggie as well. Even though I'm young he's a lot younger than me. I just said to him be confident, whatever you do in the 18s, 21s, just try and replicate here.' With Chelsea overmatching almost all of the sides they have faced in the Conference League, the competition has afford Maresca the chance to hand opportunities to academy starlets. Walsh got his first taste of action in last week's first leg and nearly scored after coming on as full-time approached. Following the game, Maresca said: 'I felt excited to give him the chance. He's suited to our style. He's the eighth debut from the academy. 'He is perfect for our system, but of course he's also young, so we need to protect him. I told him to enjoy the experience before he came on. It was the perfect night – an important semi-final and a good result.' On Thursday, the Blues sealed their place in the final with a 1-0 win courtesy of a first-half goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The midfielder cut in on to his left foot and found the bottom corner. With that, the Blues led by four goals on aggregate. Dewsbury-Hall was signed from Leicester for £30million. He has played a minor role in the Premier League, but has managed more minutes than anyone in this competition and will be worthy of that medal if Chelsea can see it through. Chelsea will face their toughest test in the Estadio Municipal de Breslavia in Warsaw on May 28. LaLiga side Betis secured their place in the clash after a nail-biting 4-3 aggregate win over Fiorentina.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Very happy to reach the final'
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very happy, the job is done tonight and now we have almost 20 days to prepare for this final and hopefully we can win this the 1-0 win tonight: "It's good overall, good performance with many young players. It is almost a second team. Very happy for the young boys and very happy to reach the final."On Reggie Walsh: "How good is he? You can see that he is a good player. He is that kind of player that we like, very good. For sure he is young and he has many things to do and to grow. Very happy for him, very happy for his family and he has to enjoy this moment."On the young players taking their moment: "It's important for them, it's important for us, it's important for the rest. We have three more Premier League games before the final, we can be focused on that and then hopefully we can win the title."On the momentum Chelsea have created: "We are in a good mood, a good run of results but now we have another game in less than 72 hours so we have to focus on that. [Newcastle] is a huge game. We have three more games and they are all important."
