Chelsea clinch UEFA Conference League title with 4-1 win over Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland. Goals from Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo sealed the victory for the Blues, who were tested in the first half but emerged triumphant. The win marks Chelsea's first major trophy since the 2021 Champions League and their first overall since February 2022.
Former Chelsea keeper Mark Schwarzer, a BBC Radio 5 Live summariser for the game, lauded the team's performance, stating, "Winning this trophy is massive. You can see what it means to them and how important it is to win it. This is what it's all about."
Chelsea rotated their squad heavily throughout the tournament, averaging 8.5 changes per European game, based on their previous Premier League line-up. The final saw a stronger XI, with only four outfield changes from the side that beat Nottingham Forest last weekend to clinch a Champions League spot.
Six academy players have made their debut in the Conference League, with 13 appearances for 19-year-old forward Tyrique George, compared to 11 in domestic games. The tournament provided valuable experience for young players, with 16-year-old Reggie Walsh becoming Chelsea's youngest player since 1967 when he played both legs of their semi-final against Djurgarden.
Chelsea played a few unfamiliar names this season in Europe's third-tier tournament, including Armenian side FC Noah, named after the biblical character with the ark, and Kazakh side Astana, which required an eight-hour flight with a five-hour time zone difference.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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