Chelsea's advantage in Conference League lowers stakes but has brought its benefits
Never before have Chelsea been deemed automatic winners before a ball was kicked, making an almost no-win situation
As far back as a very sunny evening in late May of last year Chelsea became automatic favorites for a tournament they had never played in before.
One ponders the alternative timeline if Manchester United had been predictably beaten by their noisy neighbors in that FA Cup final and Chelsea would have ventured into the higher echelons of the Europa League.
On Thursday both United and Spurs, two rivals who have endured truly horrendous Premier League campaigns, are within touching distance of a straight shootout for Champions League qualification, something which could still escape Chelsea’s grasp.
Thursday also became notable for the ease to which Chelsea took a firm grasp in their own European semi-final. A 4-1 win over Djurgården placed one foot in the Wroclaw final and was only the third time this calendar year Enzo Maresca’s side have scored more than three in a single game. (The other two against League Two Morecambe in January and Southampton a month later).
Despite vast rotation, a dodgy artificial turf and eyes from supporters on the result of Nottingham Forest, there was still a lot to like about this display.
A dominant first half proved a great showcase of Enzo Fernandez’s creativity, Noni Madueke’s finishing and Jadon Sancho’s increased involvement in goals after much scrutiny. Despite the second half bringing some more resistance from the hosts, a double for Nicolas Jackson was very welcome. Although that long-desired goal still elude’s Cole.
This has been a very weird journey for Chelsea. In every single game, Chelsea have not just been favorites, but heavy ones. Except the dismal second leg to Legia Warsaw and second leg to Servette, Chelsea have won every other contest. In eight they have won by two or more goals.
In almost all of the games “fringe” players played a predominant role. In almost of all them, the tension that comes with most Premier League outings vanishes, replaced by a predictable end.
You could not escape the wildly higher tension in Tuesday and Wednesday’s Champions League semi-finals. A tension many of us naively became used to. However, that does not lessen the importance of longing to get back to that level of seriousness.
But it is impossible to avoid the ease to which Chelsea have breezed through the Conference League almost in spite of their own quality and issues. Even with the drop in convincing performances since Christmas, the increasingly tense relationship between Maresca, his style and supporters. It speaks volumes that none of this has undermined the expected route to the final.
A final which likely will bring the first serious resistance to Chelsea. Facing either Real Betis or Fiorentina. The latter featuring in 2 out of the 3 finals, losing both to West Ham and Olympiacos. Real Betis sit sixth in La Liga, only one point off a Champions League qualifying spot with five games to go.
This is not to say nothing worthwhile has come out of this tournament for Chelsea.
The most obvious bonus has been the ability to give academy players their first forays into senior football. Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Ato Ampah, Shim Mheuka, Kiano Dyer, Harrison Murray-Campbell and the latest, in 16-year-old Reggie Walsh fill the list.
For whatever you land at the feet of Maresca, this should be seen as a win, however small you rank it, for the club’s academy. You can scoff at this or appreciate that without this brief escapade into a third-tier European tournament, it would be unlikely the list of debutants would have been this long.
A 16-year-old who is back in school the following day making his debut in an European semi-final away is a signal of the luxury Maresca has, whilst also providing a wholesome moment.
The problem is that Chelsea’s season to many, was never going to be defined by the Conference League. A bit like the dynamic in play for most England qualifiers, you are expected to win comfortably and anything less provokes scrutiny. This is not entitlement, this is just objective reality. Coming up against opponents whose most expensive signing doesn’t exceed £2m, reflects the financial gap.
Out of all of Chelsea’s rich European history, lifting the Conference League is unlikely to topple even the two Europa League wins in 2013 and 2019, let alone the loftier ones. That makes it awkward for Maresca, who had no hand in Chelsea being in this lesser tournament. One that placed him with an expected trophy that won’t bring you much credit before he had even arrived.
Chelsea fans demand trophies. The club’s history is littered with them and during a period of frustration amongst supporters at the club’s hierarchy, this tournament offers the opportunity for their first notable success. That cannot be underrated for a young group, and a club that has been devoid of clear highs since 2022.
You hope that the experience gained in winning something and tangibly achieving a goal will offer enough value heading into the Club World Cup and next season’s Premier League.
Should Chelsea end their season well and qualify for Champions League football, stakes will be raised and stress will increase. However, that is not a negative, it is what you desire being a serious club competing at the highest possible level.