Chelsea advances to Conference League final, set to face off against Real Betis.
🤘 Let's dive into the thrilling UEFA Conference League action!
Chelsea is just one win away from making history, thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's late-half goal against Djurgården, marking the debut of 16-year-old Reggie Walsh as the youngest starter in a European game for the Blues.
Chelsea can be the first team ever to win all three of UEFA's current competitions if they manage to beat Real Betis in the final on May 28 in Wroclaw, Poland. Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea boss, expressed his enthusiasm, telling TNT Sports, "We've done the job tonight and now we have 20 days to prepare for this final. Hopefully, we can win this trophy!"
Chelsea's last major victory was in the 2021 Champions League, but captain Reece James believes the club is on the rise after a challenging period. He said, "We expect to win the competition. Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement."
Defender Marc Cucurella was the only player retained from the team that defeated champions Liverpool in the Premier League last week, with Maresca making several changes to his line-up for this crucial game.
Although Maresca's tactics have faced criticism, he currently has Chelsea fifth in the English league, on track to qualify for the Champions League through a top-five finish.
The teenage midfielder Walsh made his debut off the bench in the 4-1 win in Stockholm, helping Chelsea seize control of the tie. However, Djurgården fans still turned up in large numbers for the second leg in London, despite the first Swedish club to reach a European semi-final since Gothenburg in the 1986-87 UEFA Cup failing to keep up the fight.
The only real threat for Djurgården came from Daniel Stensson's long-range shot, although Dewsbury-Hall had a chance to double his tally.
Chelsea will be strong favorites against Real Betis to clinch their first silverware since the new ownership took over from Roman Abramovich three years ago. Betis snuck their way into the history books by overcoming Fiorentina after extra time, with Antony's free-kick and Abde Ezzalzouli's deciding goal sealing the deal.
Stay tuned as Chelsea battles Real Betis for UEFA Conference League glory! 🏆🎉
[1] "Chelsea vs Djurgarden ends 1-0 to Blues to set up Betis final showdown," BBC Sport, May 3, 2025. (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58854355)[2] "Real Betis advance to UEFA Conference League final," UEFA, May 4, 2025. (https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/newsid=3133085.html)
- In the 2025 UEFA Conference League, Chelsea, currently fifth in the English Premier League, aims to thread their way through the final against Real Betis, a rare opportunity for international sports glory beyond the Premier League.
- The upcoming match against Real Betis presents Chelsea with a chance to make history, as they could become the first team to win all three current UEFA competitions, a remarkable achievement in European sports-analysis and football circles.
- Although Chelsea's journey to the Conference League final has been remarkable, with the debut of 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, their competition victory in the 2021 Champions League still stands as their most recent major achievement in sports.
- As Chelsea prepares to face Real Betis on May 28, the task remains challenging, considering Real Betis snuck their way into the Conference League final by overcoming Fiorentina after extra time in their semifinal.
- If Chelsea triumphs in the Conference League, it would mark a significant milestone for the club, as their last major trophy under their new ownership was the 2021 Champions League, three years ago.
- Despite the tough competition, Chelsea fans can look forward to the Conference League final with anticipation, as Chelsea battles Real Betis for UEFA Conference League glory, a potential stepping stone towards dominance in European leagues.
