EUROPE CONQUERED
Blues become first team to claim all the Uefa trophies
WINNERS: Chelsea players celebrate lifting the Conference League trophy on Wednesday WINNERS: Chelsea players celebrate lifting the Conference League trophy on Wednesday
Image: EPA
CHELSEA became the first club to complete a clean sweep of European trophies after beating Real Betis 4-1 in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night.
Chelsea trailed at halftime and deservedly so as Betis dominated the first 45 minutes and might have been further ahead following Abde Ezzalzouli’s early opener.
But Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea took control after the break and, led by their irrepressible England international Cole Palmer, romped to an easy win in the end.
The midfielder laid on goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo made the scoreline more emphatic late on.
LEKKER FEELING: Captain Reece James LEKKER FEELING: Captain Reece James
Image: AFP
Club captain Reece James says of winning the trophy: “It’s a great feeling. As the game went on we grew into it and thankfully we scored four goals in the second half.
“Coming into this competition, it was something we had to win. Next season we go again in the Champions League.”
Chelsea are the first English side to win all four major European trophies - including the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup. They have also won two Uefa Super Cups.
And defender Levi Colwill adds: “To be the first club to have won everything possible, you can see the fans celebrating now and it shows how much it means to them…”
Fans toasted the success, with lifelong Martin, who celebrated the team’s in Wroclaw, Poland, on Wednesday saying: “A trophy always feels good.
“Of course it is a real trophy. We haven’t had the best season, but we completed the set, we won everything in Europe there is to win.”