By Martin Graham
Chelsea’s campaign in this season’s UEFA Europa Conference League almost ended before it really began. In August, they were close to a shock exit in the qualifying round against Servette. After taking a comfortable 2-0 lead at Stamford Bridge and scoring early in the return leg in Geneva, they appeared to be cruising. But Servette responded with two goals and came close to forcing extra time in stoppage time, with the match interrupted by fireworks. It was just Enzo Maresca’s fourth game in charge.
Once into the main rounds, the Blues maintained dominance, never trailing in any of their knockout ties. Their biggest win came in an 8-0 thrashing of Armenian side FC Noah, matching the club’s second-highest winning margin ever and setting a tournament record. In total, they scored 45 times in 15 matches, and every group match was won by a two-goal margin or more. They beat Copenhagen, Legia Warsaw, and Djurgarden comfortably before facing Real Betis in the final.
That final in Wroclaw proved to be the real test. Real Betis led at the break through Abde Ezzalzouli, but Chelsea responded in style with four second-half goals. Cole Palmer was named man of the match, contributing assists for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson. Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo added their names to the scoresheet, sealing a 4-1 win and Chelsea’s first major trophy since 2021.
Throughout their European campaign, Chelsea heavily rotated their squad. On average, they made 8.5 changes from their previous Premier League game for each European fixture. The club fielded two almost distinct line-ups: one for domestic league matches and another for continental games. England international Palmer, the standout performer this season, wasn’t even registered for European competition until the knockout phase.
Several players who featured regularly in Europe barely played domestically. Eighteen players appeared more often in the Conference League than in the Premier League, including five who left the club midway through the season. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played in all 15 European matches, while striker Marc Guiu – who scored six times – has not started a league game yet.
The tournament also gave valuable exposure to academy players. Reggie Walsh, at 16, became the youngest Chelsea player since 1967 when he played both semi-final legs against Djurgarden. Eight academy players made their debut in the competition. Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong each earned more appearances in Europe than at home. However, none of these younger talents were selected for the final.
Despite being one of the wealthiest clubs in the competition, Chelsea didn’t treat the Conference League lightly. They fielded strong sides when needed, especially during the knockout stages. Former players and pundits highlighted the significance of the win, not just as a trophy but as a step forward for a squad in transition.
While the club did not manage to sell all 12,500 tickets allocated for the final, the post-match scenes painted a different picture. Players and fans celebrated as if it were a Champions League title, with jubilant scenes on and off the pitch. Former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer noted how meaningful the win was for team spirit, and Joe Cole emphasized the positive energy it brought to the club.
This win marked Chelsea’s first silverware since 2022 and their first major European title since lifting the Champions League in 2021. According to Lucy Ward, the victory could act as a springboard as the team prepares for next season’s Champions League. Defender Levi Colwill reflected on the joy among supporters, suggesting the win resonated deeply. As Joe Cole put it, this could be the start of something exciting for the Blues.
