Conference League final: Chelsea FC - European trophy collectors are at it again
Chelsea pulled a demolition job on Real Betis in the second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit at the break to run off into Polish midnight scenes - fresh European silverware in hand after a 4-1 triumph at the Stadion Wrocław.
With the Blues’ boss Enzo Maresca demonstrating that he is the man to take the Blues forward - let’s take a look at his reaction to the triumphant events of the final.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo lays out the managerial reaction from Chelsea’s glorious night.
‘Very happy’ with the win and season overall
Asked pitchside how he was feeling in the immediate aftermath of the final, Maresca offered his thoughts, speaking with TNT Sports: “Yeah very happy, a little bit frustrated [in the] first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way.”
“But also, I expected this, the happiness was too much after Nottingham. So we struggled a little bit first half, but in the second half we were much better.”
Chelsea icon Joe Cole asked Maresca about what gave him the sense that things were not quite right after the Nottingham Forest game, mentality wise. Maresca responded: “The message after Nottingham has been, guys, if we want to be an important team, what we have done is done, now we need to win the final. It's a final.”
“That was the message, but then it’s the happiness, the tiredness and we had 48 hours less than them.”
“They played Friday for nothing. We played Sunday for big, big target.”
“So I expected a little bit, but then second half I think we were playing much better. We were more [direct], the process was good, but it was also to attack in behind.”
“First half we tried to play without attacking in behind.”
Personal pride
Ex-Chelsea player Steve Sidwell asked Maresca what the win meant for him personally, to which he replied, saying, “I’m very proud, I’m very happy. For sure, personally, I feel good. But also because I know the fans deserve that. They are already waiting for two, three years for a good moment.”
He also went on to express that the club has invested lots of money in the last three to four years, so they are also expecting results.
Maresca continued, saying, “Hopefully this can be a starting point from tonight, from this season, we’re building something important.”
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Carrying the mantle
In the overall context of the Blues’ season, Maresca has silenced his naysayers somewhat by walking off blissfully into the offseason with a top four Premier League finish and a European trophy.
Questions still persist on his possession-based style of play transitioning into something of similar principle, but with more of a killer instinct.
Through a few summer signings and an extra year of experience under the belt for plenty of Chelsea’s youthful stars, the team should make a run further up the table in their league exploits next season as well as an admirable Champions League run.
Chelsea fans will not and should not expect anything less. That level of expectation and upholding of standards is why the club is one of the most successful in the last 25 years, and the most successful London based club, period.
