Enzo Maresca stands poised to make a significant statement as he seeks to etch Chelsea’s name into football history during Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis.
Securing a hard-fought victory in the final round of Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest on Sunday has ensured that the Blues qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Now, with his sights set on Wroclaw, Maresca aims for Chelsea to become the first club to triumph in all five of UEFA’s major men’s club competitions.
The London club has previously lifted the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and the now-discontinued Cup Winners’ Cup twice each, and they can complete the illustrious collection by overcoming Betis in the final of Europe’s newest competition in Poland.
After taking over from Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca’s first season at Stamford Bridge has been nothing short of a whirlwind.
The team was in close contention with eventual Premier League champions Liverpool in mid-December before suffering a significant downturn, although their form regained momentum towards the season’s end.
Feeling the heat from critics, Maresca responded assertively after his youthful squad clinched fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 victory at the City Ground.
“For all those who believe they hold the answers, who suggest we are too young or not good enough,” he remarked, “they will unfortunately find themselves mistaken, as they often are.“
Maresca, who has faced fan backlash over his perceived defensive tactics, expressed to UEFA.com that securing the Conference League title would elevate a good season into a “great one” for Chelsea. He stated, “It would signify our return as a winning club in Europe, and that is what we aspire to achieve.“
The west London outfit is still searching for their first trophy since Todd Boehly’s consortium took charge from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022.
Having been favourites to win the Conference League since its inception, the 2021 European champions have emerged victorious in 11 of the 12 matches played thus far.
Maresca, 45, formerly of Leicester City, has opted for squad rotation throughout the tournament, giving chances to younger and fringe players, and again emphasised the importance of making adjustments for Wednesday’s encounter.
Pellegrini: A Guiding Light
Maresca will face off against 71-year-old Manuel Pellegrini, whom he regards as a football “father figure” after having played under him at Malaga and later serving as his assistant coach at West Ham.
“I owe much of my success to him,” he stated. “I collaborated with Manuel for four years — two as a player and two as a member of his coaching staff. I am deeply grateful for what I’ve accomplished because of him.“
“Our relationship and the guidance he offers me are invaluable. He always advised me to stay true to myself.“
The highly experienced former Real Madrid and Manchester City manager Pellegrini has expressed confidence in Maresca’s potential for a long and fruitful career in football.
“You can often identify which players will develop into excellent coaches based on their impact on teammates and how well they grasp concepts during training,” he remarked.
“I always believed that both Enzo and Willy (Caballero, Chelsea’s assistant coach) were destined to become influential figures on the global coaching stage.“
The Chilean, whose side finished sixth in La Liga, can draw on the talents of the revitalised Antony, on loan from Manchester United, alongside Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.
Furthermore, the Seville-based club, embarking on their inaugural European final, can take heart from an impressive statistic: since the 2001/02 season, all 23 finals in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League that have included Spanish clubs have been won by Spanish teams.
Pellegrini aims to deliver a captivating performance in Wroclaw, stating, “While winning is crucial, how you achieve that victory holds even greater significance.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
