.jpg)
7 hours ago
1
Chelsea are set to take on Real Betis in the final of the UEFA Conference League in Poland next week.
One of the interesting sub-plots about the game is the battle in the manager’s dugout.
Maresca previously played under Pellegrini before then working as his assistant coach at West Ham. Now, they’re about to try to outwit each other in a European final.
But before Chelsea face off against Real Betis, they must overcome Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season with a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League on the line.
The majority of supporters will agree that qualifying for the Champions League is more important than winning the Conference League.
However, once the final against Betis comes around, we’re sure the players will be desperate to finish the season with a trophy.
The Blues have been favourites for the Conference League since the beginning of the tournament, but they deserve credit for easing their way to the final. Even though it wouldn’t be the most glamorous piece of silverware in the club’s trophy cabinet, it would complete the European set.
What Pellegrini had to say about Maresca’s Chelsea future
Ahead of the big game next week, Pellegrini has been speaking about his familiar foe and has predicted great things for his Italian counterpart.
Marca reported Pellegrini as saying, “My words about Enzo are only positive. I was fortunate to manage him as a player in the final years of his career. Later, he worked with me at West Ham.”
“He is a manager who is going to have a great career; in fact, he is already having one. He has done important things, getting promoted at Leicester and at Chelsea, he shows his ability. He always has the intention of studying, of learning, he is a manager with a great future and with a present in which he is demonstrating his ability.”
English (US)