The story is sometimes written in the most stinging pain before switching to the purest ecstasy. This Wednesday evening in Wrocław, Chelsea added an indelible gold line to its legend by winning the Europa Conference League after a final with completely crazy scenario against Real Betis (4-1). Led, dominated, almost nonexistent for more than an hour, the Blues have found unsuspected resources to overthrow the table and afford not only a sixth European trophy, but also the prestige of being the first club in history to have conquered the four major European cuts (C1, C2, C3, and now C4).
The Betis Dance, Chelsea in the strings
Because for sixty long minutes, the Andalusian dream took shape with a magnificent insolence. The Betis of the engineer Pellegrini recited an almost perfect score, stifling unrecognizable blues. And the light came from Abde Ezzalzouli. The former prodigy of Barça, on a brilliant pigeon wing of Isco, offered himself a fantastic ride of Gareth Bale, depositing the London defense before deceiving the opposing goalkeeper (9th). 0-1. The Betis controlled, Chelsea sank, unable to react, the specter of a rout hovering on the men of Enzo Maresca.
Palmer awakens Chelsea, Betis collapses in the final!
Palmer rings the revolt, Chelsea resuscitates
And then, football, in its sublime irrationality, chose its moment. While Chelsea seemed to the bottom of the hole, Cole Palmer, the English prodigy transparent for months, decided that his calamitous season could not end. First, a millimeter center for the head of Enzo Fernández, who arose to equalize against all expectations (65th). The click. Five minutes later, the same palmer, transfigured, delivered a new offering for Nicolas Jackson who, with an improbable recovery of the chest to the first post, gave the Blues (70th). In five minutes of pure madness, the match had changed, Betis, ringed, collapsed mentally and physically.
The final recital and the history on
Released with immense weight, Chelsea was then going to unroll, taking advantage of the spaces left by a Betis in the torture. Jadon Sancho, the other ghost, participated in the feast of a superb coiled right strike that cleaned the skylight (83rd). The KO was total. And to complete this work, Felipe Caicedo, served by Enzo Fernández after having himself initiated the action, sent a heavy strike under the bar in additional time (92nd). 4-1. Mass was said, the pill far too bitter for Andalusians who had nevertheless touched their dream. A triumph in which the French Benoît Badiashile and Malo Gusto, holders and solid, proudly participated.
London reigns, Chelsea in the legend
Chelsea and his Italian coach Enzo Maresca therefore enter the Pantheon. This sixth European coronation, this unique great home, tops a season where the blues, fourth in the Premier League and therefore already assured of the Champions League, have proven their character. For Betis, the disillusionment is immense, the last half hour having turned into a nightmare. But tonight, after Tottenham's victory in the Europa League last week, it is London who asserts himself as the capital of European football … at least for the “small” cups. Chelsea engraved his name in gold letters.
