Chelsea FC’s Manager Enzo Maresca Believes Winning the Conference League Can Be a Statement of Intent
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that winning the Conference League can be a statement of intent to prove that the club is “back”. The Blues are currently 4-1 up after the first leg of the semi-final against Swedish club Djurgarden, and are strong favourites to progress to the final against Real Betis or Fiorentina, which will be played in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 May. According to the BBC, Maresca believes that winning a trophy, albeit UEFA’s third-tier European competition, would be enough to say Chelsea are back.
In an interview, Maresca said: “Yes, for me, winning a trophy, the Conference League, is a statement to say Chelsea is back. Because, firstly, you win a trophy and then, if Real Madrid or different clubs didn’t play the Conference League, it’s because the Conference League is not the level they were at.” As reported by the BBC, Maresca also stated that Chelsea need to start from where they are, and that the Conference League is the only trophy that Chelsea didn’t win in the past. He added that Chelsea can become the first club in Europe to win all the European competitions.
The BBC reports that Chelsea’s squad is valued significantly higher than Djurgarden’s, with Transfermarkt estimating that Chelsea’s squad is worth 44 times more than their opponents. Additionally, Transferroom values Chelsea’s squad at the same level as all 35 other clubs that featured in the Conference League’s league phase combined. Despite this, Maresca remains cautious, stating that the reality is that Chelsea need to take the competition seriously.
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen also emphasised the importance of taking the game seriously, saying: “We will take it as seriously as any other games. It’s the semi-final of a European competition and we want to be in the final. I don’t think any of us think this is done yet. We have 90 minutes left to play. We’re going to give it our all and we want to win this game as well.” As reported by the BBC, 6,000 fans are expected to travel to London for Thursday’s game at Stamford Bridge.
The Conference League semi-final is not the only important game for Chelsea this week. The BBC reports that they also face a crucial Premier League match against Newcastle on Sunday, which could have huge implications for both clubs in their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League through a top-five finish. Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are fourth.
As the BBC notes, winning the Conference League would be a significant achievement for Chelsea, and a statement of intent for the club. Maresca’s comments suggest that he is focused on winning the competition, and that he believes it can be a catalyst for future success. With the game against Djurgarden approaching, Chelsea will look to make a statement and prove that they are back. The BBC will continue to provide coverage of the match and the Conference League.
The Conference League final will be held in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 May, and Chelsea will look to make it to the final and potentially win the competition. According to the BBC, this would be a significant achievement for the club, and a statement of intent for the future.
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