Enzo Maresca believes that winning the Europa Conference League would be a sign that Chelsea is “back”.
The blues have one foot in the Conference League final – which takes place in Wroclaw on 28 May – after a 4-1 semi -final first leg wins at Swedish side Djugardens ALS.
If Chelsea won the competition, they would automatically qualify for the Europa League, but the side of Maresca also chases Champions League qualification via a top-five Premier League finish.
The blues have a two-point lead on the sixth placed Nottingham Forest with three more matches over-but Maresca believes that creating a winning mentality is also important at the club.
“For me, winning a trophy this season – and the Conference League Trophy – is a statement that you can say: Chelsea is back,” said Maresca in a press conference prior to the semi -final second stage.
“From there it is a good starting point to build up the winning mentality and to win trophies.”
'Chelsea must learn to win'
As a player, Maresca won two UEFA Cup titles with Seville, as well as the UEFA Super Cup with the Spanish side in 2006.
The Italian coach, however, revealed that he had picked up his best example of a winning mentality while spending four years as a player between 2000 and 2004.
“It is important because it forms yourself, doing all the experiences,” said Maresca about the impact of winning a European trophy as a player.
“The best experience in terms of winning mentality is with Juventus, because it is a club where you realize that even in the training sessions you want to win the small -sided games. So it's a winning mentality in all competitions.
“It's nice to win trophies because you learn how to win. Chelsea is a big club with many important, trophies in the past, but we have to learn to win with this team, one that is different from the team that won important trophies here with Chelsea.
“I try to convince the players that day after day, you have to build the winning mentality. You have to win the small -sided games.
“The competition we are currently, is the Conference League, then we have to win this competition. In the future we can be in other competitions, but at the moment this is the reality.”