Latest news with #Wroclaw
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'We've got our Chelsea back'
After Chelsea won the Conference League on Wednesday, we asked for your celebration stories and what the trophy means for Enzo Maresca's is a snapshot of your submissions:Terry (picture above): Just arrived back from Wroclaw after a brilliant trip. What a second half performance from the team! The atmosphere heading to and in the stadium was fantastic. Credit to the Real Betis fans and to the Polish hosts. We heard there was some trouble between fans but didn't see anything and only take a positive experience away. It may only be the Conference League but winning it and finishing in the top four shows real progress for this young We are staying in Krakow - it has been an amazing experience. My son cried after we equalised, such a fab memory. A day of recovery exploring the city. Chill day definitely required!Jacob: I had a couple of drinks with my mates after the game and we didn't get back home until 5am!Not a Chelsea fan? Find and follow your club here Mo: People forget this isn't the same CFC that won the Champions League four years ago (apart from Reece James). This is a team full of kids with massive potential, who are yet to reach their prime. This win will do wonders for them. The bond, the hunger, the experience and the belief this win has created is invaluable. Their first steps in European Club football. Very happy for the boys and looking forward to the next few years as they hit their We've won it all! Again! Great second half from the team. Malo Gusto had a shocker but he will learn and improve. We need a new striker as Jackson isn't good enough even though he scored. We should have won the competition but being favourites isn't always easy and we did the job. Djordje Petrovic in goal and Andrey Santos in the squad and we can do good things next season!!Scott: This celebration wasn't about the Conference League - it was a marker that were rising back to where we feel we belong. I wouldn't swap Arsenal's season for ours and the questions about their current manager and team is 'have they peaked?, about whether Arteta should stay if they remain trophyless next season. The question about the current Chelsea team is solely about how far they can go. We've got our Chelsea back.
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
From embarrassing Chelsea pal to interview with dad – Five times Cole Palmer stole show AFTER Conference League final
COLE PALMER was the star of the show on the pitch as Chelsea were crowned Conference League champions. After a slow start, which saw Real Betis take a first-half 1-0 lead, Palmer inspired a huge comeback in the second half to see Chelsea win 4-1. 4 4 4 4 Palmer picked up two assists for the equaliser and the goal, which put them ahead in Wroclaw, Poland, as Chelsea made history by completing the Uefa trophy collection. However, the 23-year-old was also box office after the final whistle. From funny answers in interviews to a stunning gesture with the trophy. SunSport has looked at five ways in which Palmer was the star of the show even after the final: Sideways passing comment Ever Chelsea's talisman and creative guru, Palmer's two assists typified the sort of player he is, a maverick on the ball. Speaking to reporters after the match, Palmer admitted he was "sick" of playing the ball safe before he popped up with his two assists. He said: "Yeah I was sick of getting the ball and going backwards and sideways. "So I thought when I next get the ball I'm just going to go. And it worked." No comment to party question This time, Palmer was speaking to American broadcaster CBS Sports. CBS is known for its more relaxed style of questioning players compared to British broadcasters TNT Sports. 'Like father, like son' - Fans stunned by how similar Cole Palmer's dad is to Chelsea star in viral interview And that came across as the panel asked Palmer how he planned to celebrate the win, with the Chelsea star giving a typically hilarious response. He said: "No comment," which prompted a smirk from him as the studio team burst out into laughter. Interview with dad Palmer appeared in an interview with his dad, Scott, after winning the Conference League. We have already touched on Palmer's nonchalant style of answering questions after the final. Unfortunately for the beIN SPORTS interviewer, Scott was not much better either - he described his own answers as "short and sweet". Scott was asked his thoughts on Palmer's performance after he was named man of the match. He replied saying: "Yeah he did well. Turned the match, got us the win." Palmer then joked it was his dad's fault he always gave short answers in interviews, with Scott adding: "Short and sweet." Fans found the interaction amusing as they realised the apple does not fall far from the tree in the Palmer family. One supporter reacted saying: "Like father like son." Talking up Tosin Back in the press conference room, Palmer also voiced his opinion on the Player of the Tournament award. Just as the presser was winding down, Palmer interjected to ask who gives out the Player of the Tournament award for the competition. He was told it was the Uefa technical observer panel. Palmer then sniggered to himself before saying: "Can someone tell him that Tosin [Adarabioyo] wants it." The comment sparked laughter from the room. 'Got no pockets' Palmer left fans stunned with the peculiar way he decided to hold his Man of the Match award from the final. CBS reporter Anita Jones noticed that Palmer has stuffed his POTM award in his waistband to come over to chat to her, prompting her to question why he had done so. She said: "Cole, interesting way to carry your trophy there." And Palmer simply replied: "I've got no pockets, so I put it there." his cool responses and hilarious demeanor in interviews. On social media, one fan wrote: "Effortlessly funny."
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
'I was sick of going sideways': Cole Palmer on inspiring Chelsea fightback
Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw on Wednesday night to win the Conference League, having found themselves 1-0 down after a poor first-half performance. Cole Palmer provided assists for Enzo Fernández and Nicolas Jackson in five second-half minutes to turn the game around, before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed the victory. 'I was sick of getting the ball and going backwards or sideways,' Palmer said afterwards. 'I thought when I next get the ball, I'm just going to go [forward] and it worked.' The win makes Chelsea the first club in history to win all of Uefa's European club competitions. Chelsea head coach, Enzo Maresca said: 'Hopefully, it can be a starting point to build a winner mentality.'
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
What next for Man Utd exiles Sancho and Antony?
Soon after the final whistle blew in Wroclaw - after Chelsea had defeated Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final - two contracted Manchester United players aged 25, Jadon Sancho and Antony have ended their seasons on a high but their futures remain who joined Chelsea on loan last summer, scored his third goal in 10 matches to help the Blues to a first trophy since February his January loan move to Spain, Antony has transformed Real Betis' season with nine goals and five assists in 26 games. Despite Wednesday's final ending in disappointment for the Brazilian, Antony looks forward to re-joining the national squad under new boss Carlo now have to be made for two players who are in the peak years of their careers and cost Manchester United a combined total of more than £150m. Sancho doubts When Sancho's loan move to Chelsea from Manchester United was confirmed on 31 August, it seemed a perfect deal for all parties. The £73m signing from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021 had been going through a troubled time at Old agreed an obligation to buy Sancho for a fee of around £20-25m - if they were to finish higher than 14th in the Premier League - or pay a £5m clause to get out of the questioned about Sancho's future following Wednesday's Conference League final, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports: "From now, we'll discuss it with the club. If we finish fourth, it's thanks to Jadon [Sancho], and if we win tonight, it's the same. "It's normal to have ups and downs during a season. It's part of the game."Chelsea did not pay a loan fee and covered just half of Sancho's reported £300,000-a-week wages - something minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe revealed in his interview with BBC Sport on 10 March - but doubts emerged whether Chelsea would make the move permanent after a return of just two goals in his first 31 officials have privately refused to rule out using the £5m get-out clause - if the loan did not work out - but no decision had been made going into Wednesday's final. In the build-up to the game, reports suggested it was more likely the forward could return to Manchester, albeit is eligible to play for Chelsea at the Club World Cup - which starts on 14 June - but would not be able to complete the tournament, with his loan deal ending on 30 it is likely a decision will be forthcoming before Chelsea begin the month-long competition in the United States. Antony available for £32.5m? Such has been Antony's impact in Seville, captain Isco and former Betis winger Joaquin have joked about kidnapping the 25 matches since he joined, Betis have won 13 and drawn eight, losing only four. The club have secured a Europa League spot by finishing sixth in La Liga and were leading 1-0 with 25 minutes remaining in Poland as they chased a first European trophy before Chelsea's Stone, BBC Sport's chief football news reporter, said: "The real problem is the price tag if it comes to a permanent sale."It is fairly obvious the club has no chance of getting back the £81.3m they paid for him. He still has two years left on his initial five-year contract, so for amortisation purposes, United still need to sell him for £32.52m - otherwise they make a loss."Spanish football expert and BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague said: "Antony is already a hero in Betis. But Manchester United won't sell for less than 50m euros (£42m). Betis will be in Europe, but I think Antony belongs at Champions League level."A future at Old Trafford is viewed as "impossible" by the club and an interview with TNT Sports Brazil, Antony said he has found happiness again and that his situation in England affected his family life, describing the period as "very hard days for me".Meanwhile, Manchester have moved on and are close to announcing Matheus Cunha's transfer from Wolves for £ added: "We know there are going to be huge changes at Old Trafford this summer. It is impossible to think Antony will still be at the club after the transfer window closes on 1 September."
The Independent
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Noni Madueke snaps back at critics after Chelsea win Conference League
Noni Madueke believes 'critics make the game' after Chelsea left their troubles behind them by lifting the Conference League trophy on Wednesday. A tumultuous season culminated in glory as Real Betis were beaten 4-1 in Wroclaw to add silverware to the Blues' place in the Champions League next term. The occasion looked to have got the better of Chelsea's young side when they fell behind early and struggled to impose themselves against a Betis side determined to make the most of their first European final. But two wonderful assists from Cole Palmer midway through the second half turned the final around as first Enzo Fernandez then Nicolas Jackson scored, before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo wrapped up the campaign in style. 'To the critics? Critics make the game,' said 23-year-old Madueke. 'I'm not too worried about them, they spur you on so thank you. But you're not going to get swearing out of me.' It has been far from a simple path for Enzo Maresca's team who looked to have blown their top-five chances following a poor run of two Premier League wins in 10 matches between December and February, with supporters during home matches turning on the team and in particular the head coach. Chelsea have the youngest squad in Premier League history and a manager who has just completed his first season in a senior top-flight role, yet he was accused of playing a slow and uninspiring style of football that supporters appeared to be rejecting. However, a strong finish in the league – securing their place in Europe's top competition with victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day – was capped with the first trophy in Poland of the Clearlake Capital ownership era. 'The last few weeks we've taken a leap (in maturity),' said Madueke. 'You look at the game against Nottingham Forest how we came through that, the Liverpool (3-1) and United (1-0) games at home, and obviously (Wroclaw). 'The first half was difficult but we came out and showed our desire. I'm so proud.' There was a lingering question during the run-in over whether, given the club's history, finishing fourth and winning UEFA's third competition would constitute success. 'Of course that's a success,' said Madueke. 'Especially where we've come from the last few years. We know Chelsea is a winning club so there was nothing in our minds apart from winning.' Despite the difficulties, Maresca can look with satisfaction on his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge and on his growing reputation as a manager. He has now won trophies in his first two senior campaigns in England having led Leicester to the Championship title in 2023/24. 'The gaffer is top,' said Madueke. 'He won last year at Leicester and he won this year in his first year at Chelsea, and qualified for the Champions League, so I don't understand why there would be criticism of him.'
