Enzo Maresca says he found it difficult to convince Chelsea that the Conference League was the “best competition in the world” prior to their run to the final.
The blues took Champions League football next season after fourth place in the Premier League, thanks to their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the last day, but can also pick up a trophy on Wednesday.
They are confronted with real betis in the showpiece of the Conference League, and when they win, they will be the first club to win all four large UEFA matches, which have the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1971, 1998), the Champions League (2012, 2021) and the Europa League (2013, 2019).
Including Maresca, each of the last seven Chelsea managers have done the lead for a major European final in their first season in the club.
But Maresca noted that he had a tough job to convince his side of the competition of the competition this period.
“Probably the most complicated thing about the conference this season [League] has been to convince the players that it was the best competition in the world for us, “he said.
“And the reason why it was because it was the competition in which we were.
“We can't play a Champions League when we're in the conference [League]Or we can't play Europe [League]. We are in the conference, so for us it was the most important competition and we have to try to win that.
“If we can win, I think it's a good thing, especially because we continue to build a winning mentality.”
Chelsea has not lifted a trophy since 2021 when they won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel.
But they are impressed by the Conference League, despite the average of the NES OUMST START-LINE-UP in the competition. Only Cercle Brugge (23 years 121 days) started a younger average this season in the Conference League than Chelsea (23Y 276d).
The blues have also used more different players (36) and had more different goal scorers (16) than any other side, and have scored 38 goals in the competition, the majority of each team in one campaign since the founding of the competition in 2021.
Reece James, who has made this period six performances in the Conference League, which has one goal, believes it will be a huge moral boost for the club.
“It would mean a lot to me and the club,” said James.
“For many of the players it would be their first trophy. Many young players played such an important role in the competition this season, so it would mean a lot.
“It is a few years ago that we have silverware in our hands, and I would like to think that this could bring the winning feeling back to the club and the players who have not won so far in their career.”