WROCLAW, Poland, May 27 (VYN) – Enzo Maresca is poised to make football history for Chelsea as his side prepares to face Real Betis in Wednesday's UEFA Conference League final. Following their decisive victory against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, which secured qualification for next season's Champions League, Maresca's focus has now shifted to Wroclaw, where Chelsea has the chance to become the first club to win all five of UEFA's major men's club competitions.

Having previously lifted the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and the defunct Cup Winners' Cup twice each, Chelsea can complete their set of European honors by overcoming Betis in the final of Europe's newest competition in Poland.

Maresca's inaugural season at Stamford Bridge, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino, has been a rollercoaster. After being in close contention with eventual Premier League champions Liverpool in mid-December, his team experienced a significant stumble before regaining momentum towards the end of the campaign. A visibly frustrated Maresca, after securing fourth place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at the City Ground on Sunday, lashed out at critics who deemed his youthful side "too young" and "not good enough."

Maresca, who has also faced criticism from fans for perceived cautious tactics, told UEFA.com that winning the Conference League would elevate a "good season" to a "great one" for Chelsea. "It would be a way of saying that we are back and that we are a winning club in Europe, and we hope to achieve just that," he stated.

The west London club is eager to secure their first silverware since Todd Boehly's consortium took over from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022. The 2021 European champions were strong favorites from the outset of the Conference League competition, winning 11 of their 12 matches thus far. Maresca, 45, a former Leicester boss, has consistently rotated his squad during the competition, providing opportunities to youth and fringe players, and has again emphasized the need for changes in Wednesday's match.

Pellegrini: A 'Father Figure' for Maresca

Maresca will pit his tactical skills against 71-year-old Manuel Pellegrini, whom he reveres as a football "father figure." Maresca played under Pellegrini at Malaga and later served as his assistant coach at West Ham. "I am where I am today thanks to him," Maresca said. "I worked with Manuel for four years -- two years as a player and two years as part of his staff. So, I owe so much to him in terms of what I've achieved. I am grateful for the relationship we have and the advice he gives me. He told me never to change."

The immensely experienced ex-Real Madrid and Manchester City boss Pellegrini believes his former protégé is destined for a long and successful career in football. "You can often tell which players might go on to be good coaches -- from the impression they have on others, how they absorb concepts in training," he remarked. "With both Enzo and Willy (Caballero, Chelsea assistant coach), I was sure they'd go on to become influential coaches on a global level."

The Chilean, whose side finished sixth in La Liga, can rely on the talents of the rejuvenated Antony, on loan from Manchester United, and Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. The Seville-based club, making their first appearance in a European final, can draw confidence from a remarkable statistic: since the start of the 2001/02 season, all 23 Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League finals featuring Spanish hopefuls have been won by a Spanish team.

Pellegrini expressed his desire to deliver a "show" in Wroclaw, stating, "We all know that winning is always very important, but I think that how you win makes it even more important." Maresca Eyes Chelsea History in UEFA Conference League Final Against Real Betis

WROCLAW, Poland (AFP) – Enzo Maresca is set to make history for Chelsea as they prepare to face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Just days after securing Champions League qualification for next season with a Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, Maresca's focus has shifted to the opportunity for Chelsea to become the first club to win all five of UEFA's major men's club competitions.

Chelsea has previously won the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup twice each. A victory against Real Betis in Poland would complete their set of European honors.

Maresca's debut season at Stamford Bridge has been a turbulent one, marked by a strong start, a mid-season dip, and a resurgence towards the end of the campaign. After his youthful side secured fourth place in the Premier League, Maresca, clearly frustrated, confronted critics who had doubted his team's capabilities due to their age.

The Chelsea boss believes that winning the Conference League would transform what has been a "good season" into a "great one." He told UEFA.com, "It would be a way of saying that we are back and that we are a winning club in Europe, and we hope to achieve just that."

This final represents Chelsea's first opportunity for silverware under Todd Boehly's ownership, which began in 2022. The 2021 European champions have dominated the Conference League, winning 11 of their 12 matches so far. Maresca, 45, has strategically rotated his squad throughout the competition, providing opportunities for younger and fringe players, and has emphasized the need for continued rotation in the final.

Pellegrini: A 'Father Figure' to Maresca

The final will see Maresca test his tactical prowess against 71-year-old Manuel Pellegrini, whom he describes as a football "father figure." Maresca played under Pellegrini at Malaga and later served as his assistant coach at West Ham. "I am where I am today thanks to him," Maresca acknowledged. "I worked with Manuel for four years – two years as a player and two years as part of his staff. So, I owe so much to him in terms of what I've achieved."

Pellegrini, an experienced manager who has led Real Madrid and Manchester City, expressed confidence in his former protégé's future in football. "You can often tell which players might go on to be good coaches – from the impression they have on others, how they absorb concepts in training," he noted. "With both Enzo and Willy (Caballero, Chelsea assistant coach), I was sure they'd go on to become influential coaches on a global level."

Real Betis, whose side finished sixth in La Liga, will feature talents such as Antony, on loan from Manchester United, and Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. Playing in their first European final, the Seville-based club can draw inspiration from a remarkable statistic: since the 2001/02 season, all 23 Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League finals involving Spanish teams have been won by a Spanish club.

Pellegrini has stated his desire for his team to put on a "show" in Wroclaw. "We all know that winning is always very important, but I think that how you win makes it even more important," he said.

The UEFA Conference League final between Real Betis and Chelsea is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 8:00 PM BST (9:00 PM CEST) at the Stadion Wrocław in Wroclaw, Poland.]

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