Can Conference League Victory Spark Chelsea's Future Success?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea won the Conference League final 4-1 against Real Betis.
- This victory marks Chelsea's first complete sweep of all five European trophies.
- Enzo Maresca emphasizes the importance of building a winning culture.
- The trophy represents the first major success for many players in the squad.
- Maresca reflects on the challenges faced during the season.
Warclaw, May 29 (NationPress) Enzo Maresca commended Chelsea's impressive resurgence against Real Betis to clinch the Conference League final, stating that their victory in Europe can serve as a foundation for future achievements.
Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo all netted in the second half, leading the Premier League side to a 4-1 triumph at Stadion Wrocław in Poland. This victory marks Chelsea as the inaugural team to secure all five European club trophies.
For many players in the Blues roster, the Conference League trophy represents their first major silverware at the club level. Maresca expressed confidence that more successes lie ahead for his team.
“I hope this can be a launchpad (for further success in the future). To cultivate a winning mindset, it’s essential to win matches and titles. Undoubtedly, the trophy we earned tonight will enhance our performance,” Maresca noted on the Chelsea website.
“Moreover, I take immense pride in our journey through the Premier League. It’s the toughest league globally, demanding consistency over 38 matches, and these players have demonstrated that ability. Following our match against Nottingham Forest, my reaction might have seemed excessive, yet maintaining consistency over a full season with the youngest squad in Premier League history is remarkable,” he added.
Reflecting on the match, Maresca suggested that his players’ slow start might have stemmed from celebrating their achievement of securing a UEFA Champions League spot on the final day of the Premier League.
“I felt a bit disappointed in the first half because I believe we approached the game incorrectly. I anticipated this somewhat; the joy was perhaps a bit overwhelming after Nottingham Forest, as we had been waiting all season for this. We struggled in the first half, but our performance improved significantly in the second half, leading to our current happiness.”
“The message following Nottingham Forest was, ‘If we aspire to be a significant team, we must focus on winning the final.’ However, the exuberance and fatigue from having 48 hours less preparation than Real Betis contributed to our first-half struggles. We played on Sunday with a major objective in mind. I did expect this a little. In the second half, we executed our game plan much better,” he concluded.