JAKARTA - Chelsea's new era has finally started. Just four days after securing its return to the Champions League, the Blues lifted their first trophy under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after winning the UEFA Conference League with a 4-1 win over Real Betis.
This is a tournament they are expected to win from the start. The chances of winning have been around since last fall given the gaping gap in resources between Chelsea and other teams.
This inequality feels very acute when traveling to unusual locations, including Astana, Heidenheim and most recently Djurgarden.
Betis has so far been the toughest opponent they have faced. For about an hour or so in Thursday's match, May 29, 2025, early har WIB, it looks like it will be a challenge that will confuse them.
Abde Ezzalzouli gave the La Liga team the lead in the ninth minute which they all deserved.
If anyone gave the best moment to describe Chelsea this new era, it would be Cole Palmer.
The England National Team player emerged from the first season of Chelsea with Mauricio Pochettino and has become Enzo Maresca's main star to fade over the season.
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However, he looked stunning against Betis. Two brilliant assists in five minutes turned things around.
First, a beautiful cross led Enzo Fernandez to head the ball from close range to equalize.
Another beautiful cross gave Nicolas Jackson a chance at the near post that was easily converted into a goal.
Jadon Sancho's substitute added a third goal at the end of the game with a good right-footed shot, before Moises Caicedo added a fourth goal to injury time.
The point is, Palmer's influence on Chelsea is huge, as a creative liaison that brings everything together.
He scored just one goal in his last 23 competitive games--and it was a penalty--but he performed brilliantly on the UEFA Conference League stage, making Betis who wanted to win the first trophy in history they won couldn't do much.
"I was sick of accepting the ball and moving backwards and sideways. I thought when I got back the ball, I would move forward."
"First of all, there was a little space and I saw Enzo running. So, I passed it. (The second) was the same again, I saw Jackson, so I passed," Palmer said after the match with his distinctive and short style.
Of course, Boehly and Clearlake don't have to spend more than 1 billion pounds since they took over in May 2022 to win Europe's third-tier tournament.
The fact that they are in the UEFA Conference League is a reflection of the mistakes that have been made to date.
However, they had to start somewhere. By winning the tournament made by UEFA four years ago, Chelsea could be proud to be the first team to win every European club tournament.
They have experienced this before. In 2022, Chelsea won the Club World Cup to complete the current series, the final title of 21 awards for Roman Abramovich's tenure before the Russian-Ukraine war took place and forced the club's sale.
Under Abramovich, the Blues are chain winners, a club that somehow shows that stability must support sustainable success to continue to deliver trophies every year.
Then, everything changed with Abramovich's departure. The scale of change at all levels in the last three years has taken place. Staff at all levels and squads who are almost all newly recruited at very expensive costs for long-term contracts.
Chelsea's methodology was questioned by supporters whether to reap the same success as the Abramovich era.
Obviously, the methodology can only be answered by trophies. Last season's Carabao Cup final defeat from Liverpool was still tight in mind. However, now they have the trophy they have been waiting for.
"Hopefully this can be a starting point. To build the winning mentality, you need to win the game, you need to win the competition."
"Obviously the trophy we won will make us better. I am also very proud of the journey we went through in the Premier League.
"For me, it is the most difficult competition in the world. You have to be consistent for 38 games and these players show it," said Maresca.
Meanwhile, there is personal satisfaction that sticks out from the look on Enzo Maresca's face after the match. As is known, the Italian coach has already auctioned off in La Liga as a player.
No wonder he was ridiculed by supporters in green uniforms - Betis supporters - before the match started. However, he was relaxed and proved his quality by remaining respectful to his opponent.
The respect he gave could not be separated from the whereabouts of Manuel Pellegrini as the Betis coach, who was once his coach in Malaga.
"He's like my professional father," said Maresca before the Betis vs Chelsea match.
It's annoying when a kid beats his father in a way for the first time.
However, Maresca needs this. He needed further validation for his approach even though he felt he had to correct his own mistakes, replace Malo Gusto with Reece James in the first half and include Sancho to replace the ineffective Pedro Neto shortly thereafter.
Maresca later claimed that she was trying to protect James given his bad fate with injury, but Chelsea's upgrade after he was included made his 'unification' feel like a step error.
If then the argument that Chelsea should win the UEFA Conference League is because the depth of their squad is far superior, then the final basically proves it.
Indeed, some long-standing frustrations are starting to emerge and Betis has two extras to prepare for than Chelsea.
Chelsea were initially too slow, passive, and not excited despite dominating the ball. However, Maresca's desire to control is based on one of her game-changers to make the difference in the final third.
Palmer did that. Maresca spoke at length with the 23-year-old when the final whistle sounded, embracing it, as celebrations began around them.
The Blues are now traveling to the 2025 Club World Cup with trophies in their upcoming Champions League cabinets and campaigns. That momentum is growing. This is Chelsea's new!
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