Chelsea secured their place in the Conference League final after completing a comfortable semi-final triumph against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
Despite 10 changes made from Sunday’s win over Premier League champions-elect, Liverpool and handing a first senior start for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, the Blues hardly went out of first gear to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory against the Swedish visitors.
They will face Real Betis in the final to be played in Wroclaw on 28th May, 2025.Having won the first leg in Sweden 4-1 comfortably last week, Chelsea increased their lead when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picked out the bottom corner from just inside the box after played through by Tyrique George.
The travelling Djurgarden fans were at the top of their lungs all night at Stamford bridge but the hosts held out the narrow second-leg victory and reached the final of Europe’s third-tier club competition after bringing on Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi, both 17, in the second half.
It will be the eighth European final in Chelsea’s history and a first since 2021 beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the UEFA Champions League under Three Lions manager, Thomas Tuchel.
For their current boss Maresca, it will be a chance to secure a first trophy – not only of his Blues reign but also the club’s during the Todd Boehly’s reign.
However before the Conference League final, Chelsea, who a lot of people have earmarked as strong favourites in the competition, will hope to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
They face Newcastle United up next on Sunday and the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who were rested against Djurgarden, will hope to play a big part at St James’ Park in the race for Champions League qualification.