Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca expressed immense pride and optimism following the club’s historic 4-1 comeback victory over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final at Stadion Wrocław, Poland.

The win not only secured Chelsea’s first trophy under Maresca but also made them the first club in history to claim all five major European club trophies.

Maresca praised the resilience of his players after a sluggish first half, where Betis took an early lead through a goal from Abde Ezzalzouli.

The Blues turned the game around in the second half with goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo, showcasing their attacking prowess and depth.

“I am very proud and very happy for many reasons,” Maresca told TNT Sports. “The fans have been waiting for two or three years for a good moment, they deserve that. This can be a starting point, from tonight. From this season, we can now build something important.”

When asked about Chelsea’s ambitions for next season, Maresca remained cautiously optimistic: “We will see. We are going to try again.”

Maresca also revealed the key role played by captain Reece James, who was introduced at halftime. “I promise you, I will always start with Reece but I am trying to protect him.

He is a top player, like Cole [Palmer], but we need to manage him,” said Maresca. He added that James assured him, “Boss, don’t worry, we are going to win!” immediately after coming on.

Reflecting on the team’s slow start, Maresca attributed it partly to the players’ celebrations after clinching a UEFA Champions League spot on the final day of the Premier League season against Nottingham Forest.

“I was a little bit frustrated in the first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way,” he admitted. “The happiness was a bit too much after Nottingham Forest… We had 48 hours less [to prepare] than them. So I expected it a little bit.”

Despite the early struggles, Chelsea’s dominant second-half performance sealed a memorable victory, giving Maresca and his squad a platform to build on for the future.

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