Chelsea's Enzo Maresca Struggles To Convince Players Of Conference League's Value

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Enzo Maresca expressed the challenge he faced in persuading Chelsea of the significance of the Conference League. Despite securing a Champions League spot by finishing fourth in the Premier League, Chelsea aims to win a trophy on Wednesday. They will compete against Real Betis in the Conference League final. A victory would make them the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions.

Chelsea has previously won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1971, 1998), Champions League (2012, 2021), and Europa League (2013, 2019). Maresca is among seven consecutive Chelsea managers who have reached a major European final in their debut season. He highlighted his struggle to convince players of the competition's value this season.

Maresca emphasised that convincing players about the Conference League's importance was challenging. "Probably the most complicated thing this season about the Conference [League] has been to convince the players that, for us, it was the best competition in the world," he stated. He believed winning would help build a winning mentality within the team.

Chelsea has not won a trophy since their Champions League victory under Thomas Tuchel in 2021. However, they have performed well in the Conference League with one of the youngest squads. Only Cercle Brugge had a younger average starting XI than Chelsea's 23 years and 276 days.

The Blues have utilised more players and had more goalscorers than any other team in this season's competition. They scored 38 goals, setting a record for a single campaign since the competition began in 2021. Reece James, who played six matches and scored once, believes winning would boost morale significantly.

"It would mean a lot to me and to the club," James said. "For a lot of the players, it would be their first trophy." He noted that many young players contributed significantly this season, making potential victory even more meaningful.

Building Future Success

James hopes winning will restore Chelsea's winning spirit after years without silverware. "It's been a few years since we got our hands on silverware," he added. He believes success could inspire players who haven't experienced much triumph in their careers yet.

As Chelsea prepares for their crucial match against Real Betis, they aim not only for victory but also to foster a culture of success within their ranks. The team's youthful energy and diverse talent pool have been instrumental throughout their journey in this competition.