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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea leave Rio Ferdinand dumbstruck as he makes Todd Boehly thoughts clear
Rio Ferdinand has been left stunned by the financial state of Chelsea under Todd Boehly after a Premier League profitability and sustainability rules list emerged Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has expressed his surprise at Chelsea topping a list ranking the healthiest Premier League clubs based on profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). On his podcast, Rio Reacts, the former England star was taken aback to see the Blues firmly positioned at the top with £300 million banked in sales despite their substantial spending under Todd Boehly. The Blues have shelled out more than £1.1billion over the past three years, consistently leading the Premier League's spending charts. Despite this, they have managed to steer clear of PSR violations. In conversation with football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Ferdinand couldn't conceal his astonishment. "I've got a list of the healthiest PSR clubs. Chelsea? How the hell are Chelsea top, please, with £300m?" Ferdinand queried. Under the current regulations, Premier League clubs are prohibited from having losses exceeding £105m over a three-year period. Maguire elucidated how the Blues are actually exploiting a notorious loophole provided by the Premier League. "In terms of Chelsea, having this £300m - £200m of that comes from selling the women's team to themselves, and another £70m, or £60-£70m, comes from selling a couple of car parks to themselves as well," Maguire explained. "Without that, Chelsea would be in a really tricky position." When questioned about the legality of such dealings, Maguire confirmed it was above board, stating: "It's in the Premier League rules. The Premier League had the opportunity to close that loophole last week and the club owners decided they quite liked it as it seems a 'get out of jail free' card that Chelsea have used and perhaps other clubs might say we want to use that as well." It's thought that Chelsea eased their financial concerns using this very loophole. The club's accounts, released in April 2024, revealed an astonishing loss of £89.9m in the previous financial year. However, without their shrewd sale of two hotels from Chelsea FC Holdings Ltd to Blueco 22 Properties Ltd, which brought in £76.5m, that figure would have been a whopping £166.4m. Both companies are subsidiaries of Chelsea's parent company, Blueco 22 Ltd. Despite the scrutiny of Chelsea's spending since Boehly's takeover, they have consistently adhered to financial regulations. They've also raked in nearly £500m from player sales, a fact that Ferdinand was quick to commend Boehly for. "You've got to give it to Chelsea, yeah," He said. "Their owners have come in, they've created a new model right, everyone laughed at them, everyone ridiculed them, said, 'There's no chance they're going to finish anywhere, if you were a player you'd never sign for Chelsea'. "They've swept up some of the best talents in the world. They've gone full throttle with it and backed themselves, and then found a few loopholes, that some people are turning their nose up at, but if there's a loophole there to be had, it's there to be had, and they've exploited that and that's the Premier League's doing, not theirs. "They've seen it, gone for it and then used it to their own benefit. Their model in terms of selling players, I don't think it can be beaten at the minute - them and City probably."
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Todd Boehly's call from Chelsea star's reps to confirm 'impossible' stance
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was given a baptism of fire not long after purchasing the club in 2022. And it was thanks to Romelu Lukaku, whose agent wasted no time informing the new chairman his client would in no uncertain terms be leaving the club that summer. American businessman Boehly, 51, fronted the BlueCo consortium's successful £4.25billion take over of Chelsea three summers ago. The sale moved quickly after the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, was instructed by the British government to sell up due to his ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who started his invasion against Ukraine earlier that year. What followed was months of uncertainty as one of the most controversial transactions in sporting history was carried out. The period is detailed in a new book, 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC', which revealed representatives acting on behalf of Lukaku actually helped restore some normality. "It is claimed the first call fielded by Boehly on Chelsea after his consortium had purchased the Premier League club came from the representatives of Romelu Lukaku," read the passage. "It was to inform him that the Belgium striker would not be staying at Stamford Bridge under any circumstances. "Which can feel strange, the conversation suddenly going back to football matters after three months of complete chaos in the aftermath of Abramovich announcing his intention to sell his beloved Blues. "But then, in a nice way, that call to confirm Lukaku's stance represented normality, which is all that Chelsea ever wanted after their very existence as a giant of the English game was threatened." Lukaku got his wish, in a way, as he completed a season-long loan move to Inter Milan barely one week after Boehly was named chairman. The Belgian wouldn't leave on permanent terms until two years later when he joined Napoli for a fee of around £25million. The episode gave Boehly a preview of just how quickly things can move in football. And the fact his takeover was confirmed during a summer transfer window simply expedited the process. Boehly came to west London with considerable experience in leading sports organisations already. He owns a minority share in Major League Baseball outfit the Los Angeles Dodgers and bought a stake in NBA giants the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2021. But neither of those deals were as big as his takeover at Chelsea, nor did they come under such contentious circumstances. The manner in which the Blues was forced to auction brought unwelcome attention, not to mention being an entirely unique kind of business deal. But as author Nick Purewal notes, Lukaku's signal acted as a kind of equaliser following such a period of unrest. A reminder that despite the delirium that preceded Boehly's arrival, it was time to get back to footballing matters. And after initially struggling to see much momentum from the team, Boehly's reign finally appears to be taking flight. A return to the Premier League's top four after two seasons away, as well as the Europa Conference League crown, holds promise for what's to come under the American.
Metro
02-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Chelsea tipped to sell 'wonderful talent' Cole Palmer in shock transfer
Martin Keown isn't convinced Chelsea are back on track to challenge for the Premier League title and claims the club will sell star player Cole Palmer in the near-future. 2024/25 was by far Chelsea's best season since Roman Abramovich sold the club to Todd Boehly's BlueCo group, as they finished fourth in the table and won the Conference League title. Enzo Maresca's side will play Champions League football next season and have the chance to win another major trophy this summer at the revamped Club World Cup. It's a positive sign for Boehly and co. whose ownership of the Blues has been widely panned, with £1.5billion spent on 51 players in just three years and little to show for it. Huge investments like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella are starting to come good but there is still a lack of experience in the squad which could prevent them challenging Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'You need balance in your squad in terms of the age,' Gunners legend Keown told talkSPORT. 'I'm not sure about the model. I thought the club were doing exceptionally well for many years. Five Premier Leagues they won in the Abramovich era. And I felt the club went backwards in an endeavour to go forwards. 'They spent £1.5billion, going round in circles, five different managers, Graham Potter given a five-year deal, out of the door in months. There's been a lot of instability in the club, lot of young players coming in. 'I'm not totally convinced. I think Cole Palmer will be sold at some point because he's such a wonderful talent and I think maybe this becomes more of a selling club which the fans are not used to. 'It's great they're back in the Champions League but I think when you look at what they had under the previous manager Thomas Tuchel, winning the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Champions League in just 12 months, they went backwards [when they sacked him].' Palmer has unquestionably been Chelsea's best signing of the Boehly era, recording 40 goals and 27 assists in the last two seasons after leaving Man City for £40m. More Trending The England international has been tentatively tipped with a move to Manchester United, the club he supported growing up, but such a transfer seems very far-fetched at the moment. The Blues have already secured one signing this summer, with Liam Delap joining from Ipswich Town but while Keown rates the deal, he does have some reservations. 'Not dissimilar to Arsenal they [Chelsea] need someone else to come in there [centre-forward] and Liam Delap's going to be a nice signing for them,' the former defender added. 'Is he actually experienced enough to take them to another level? Will he even play? Because Nicolas Jackson isn't all that bad and when he was out for long periods he was a big miss.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Chelsea complete first summer signing as Dario Essugo joins from Sporting MORE: Joshua Kimmich reacts to Florian Wirtz rejecting Bayern Munich to join Liverpool MORE: Viktor Gyokeres grilled over Arsenal transfer on FaceTime with former team-mate
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jackson repays Chelsea debts
No-one needed this moment more than Chelsea striker Nicolas the match, even Maresca said Jackson owed a "debt" to his team-mates after getting sent off in the defeat at Newcastle on 11 May, a red card that could well have cost Chelsea qualification for the Champions the match, Maresca said: "This is the Nico that the team needs."He is among those who have struggled to convince the Stamford Bridge fanbase - and the club are looking to sign a striker, with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap among the Maresca, this was his chance to show the club could build a winning mentality after a season during which he has faced criticism for his style of football and a run of poor results over the the US consortium, their ownership was tarnished by 1,201 days without silverware but the moment captain Reece James lifted the Conference League trophy, the first in his captaincy, they earned valuable breathing was the first to go and celebrate with the team, followed reluctantly by influential Clearlake Capital duo Behdad Eghbali and Jose and Clearlake have not always seen eye to eye this season but this is a period of relative stability after the club decided they would stick with Maresca regardless of the result of their final two matches of the beat Nottingham Forest to qualify for the Champions League and won against Betis to add Chelsea didn't sell out their allocation in Poland, for what was the final of European club football's third-tier competition, and fans will quickly move on if it is not backed up with both progress and further success next Nizaar's full analysis here
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Cole Palmer final: Chelsea ‘complete the set' and turn Wroclaw blue
After three years and a total spend of more than £1 billion under the Boehly-Clearlake consortium, it was ultimately fitting that the best signing of them all was the one who delivered the first trophy of this new era at Chelsea. It may be Boehly and Clearlake's club, but this is unquestionably Cole Palmer's team. For Chelsea's supporters, it will be remembered as the night they 'completed the set', becoming the first side to win all of Uefa's major tournaments. For the rest of the footballing world, though, this will be remembered as Palmer's final. Two of the most fabulous assists – one with his left foot, one with his right – turned defeat into victory against Real Betis. Chelsea's fans and players know what their rivals will say about this Conference League triumph under the moody skies of Wroclaw. That a club of their financial firepower should not even be in this competition, and that victory was simply a base-level expectation. They have heard it all before. But try telling the 11,000 Chelsea fans in Poland that this is not a proper trophy. Try telling Palmer that his imperious performance was not meaningful. Try telling Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea head coach who delightedly bounced into the arms of his players and coaches after Jadon Sancho struck the third, that this did not count. On the faces of those in blue, you could see what this meant. You could see how it felt. Are Chelsea back as a title-winning force? Time will tell on that front. But nothing builds a winning culture like winning finals, and Chelsea – who overturned Abde Ezzalzouli's opener with goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Sancho and Moises Caicedo – did what was required of them at the end of the longest of continental adventures. The happiness was too much after Nottingham Forest so we struggled a bit first half but second we were much better. The message after Forest was 'guys if we want to be an important team, what is done is done, we have to win the final'. But we had 48 hours less than them, they played on Friday for nothing and we played on Sunday for something big. The process was good and we attack in behind [in the second half]. In the first half we just tried to play and not go behind. Joe I promise you [to Joe Cole], I would start always with Reece but I'm just trying to protect him. Has played more this season than the last two. He is a top player for us, like Cole [Palmer]. 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. We knew they were going to be a good team, especially at the start with their fans pushing them on, but we knew it was going to die off. We just had to wait and pick our moments and that is what we did in the second half. Watching from the bench you can see where the spaces are and how you can help the team. When I came on for Benny [Badiashile] I could see he was working so hard and then the gaps were open. He did that for me, laid the foundations for me. Of course it is devastating to know you are not starting in a final. I want to play every game but it was the manager's decision. Once he made the decision, I had to move on and accept it and be ready when I was needed. I thought in the first half we were flat. The game didn't go our way early on and it looked like it took a lot out of us. We needed a reaction in the second half and we got it. 🏆 THE 2024/2025 UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE WINNERS, CHELSEA 🏆 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 After giving the Real Betis players a guard of honour, Reece James goes up to collect the trophy and celebrate with his team-mates. THOSE CELEBRATION SCENES 😍The UEFA Conference League winners, Chelsea, celebrating with their fans 🎶 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 After 65 minutes of this game, Chelsea were going nowhere and offering nothing. It takes a special player to turn around a final by himself, but that's pretty much what Cole Palmer has done here. That's about personality as much as it's about footballing quality. Sensational. — Sam Dean (@SamJDean) May 28, 2025 Chelsea can now say they have won every major European trophy after adding the Conference League to the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup. They proved far too strong for Real Betis, who started the game like demons but punched themselves out. Cole Palmer was key, carving out Chelsea's first two goals when the game was still proving a challenge. They ran away with it after that. 🏆 CHELSEA ARE THE UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE WINNERS 🏆Incredible 2nd half from Chelsea, as they become the 1st team to win the UCL, UEL & UECL trophies with a 4-1 victory! 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Given Chelsea are already assured of Champions League football, they could easily have allowed this to drift away after a rocky start and a long season. But they have shown impressive hunger and professionalism in the second half. Chelsea's player of the season has put the cherry on the cake. He started the move by playing the ball wide to Sancho, before receiving a return pass at the edge of the box. Caicedo took the shot on, and his strike deflected off Natan and beyond Adrian. CHELSEA ARE IN DREAMLAND! 🤩A 4th for the Blues, and it's Moises Caicedo putting the cherry on the top of their performance, and bringing the Conference League trophy within touching distance with a rasping finish from the edge of the area 💥📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 There will be five minutes of stoppage time to play. Cole Palmer is off, the next European game he plays for Chelsea will be in the Champions League which is more befitting of his quality. Real Betis have run out of steam in the second half. Maresca played the long game by starting a weakened team. Antony showing some frayed edges, getting involved in some aggravation with Enzo Fernandez: Brazil vs Argentina. Speculative appeals for a Real Betis penalty for a Reece James foul on Rodriguez, but Chelsea's right-back did enough and VAR takes no further action on it. Dewsbury-Hall turned in midfield and found plenty of space in front of him. There was a touch of good fortune in how his pass made it through to Sancho, but the finish was emphatic. Chopped inside onto his right foot and powered a shot across Adrian into the top corner. TAKE A BOW JADON SANCHO 🤩What a finish from the on-loan winger, as he cuts inside and fires expertly into the far corner to give Chelsea a 2-goal lead - is that the game for the Blues...? 🏆📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Jackson is now coming off: did he tweak a hamstring at the end of the run causing a bad touch or is he off with bruised pride? Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replaces him, who has been a mainstay of Chelsea's Conference League campaign. Chelsea fans have their heads in their hands! It really should be game over but Nicolas Jackson's touch deserted him. The Chelsea striker was clean through from the halfway line, looking sure to step forward and pass beyond Adrian, but he clumped the ball off his toe about 15 yards beyond his stride. A horrible moment. Cole Palmer has stepped up when Chelsea were running out of ideas. Now he just needs a goal to cap what has been such an influential second half. Palmer now has five goal contributions in five finals at senior level. This time Nicolas Jackson is the player heading home from close-range, but once again it is all about Palmer. He stops and starts the youngster Jesus Rodriguez, and this time goes on the outside and delivers with his weaker right foot across the face of goal. CHELSEA LEAD! WHAT A TURNAROUND 🤯Incredible play AGAIN from Cole Palmer 👏 he beats the full back and crosses from Nicolas Jackson who gets a touch on it to send it into the back of the net ⚽️ADVANTAGE CHELSEA!📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 That was better from Betis to transition up the pitch but Isco wanted too many touches in the box when a shot was on. Chelsea quickly reestablish their grip on the game, with Palmer seeing more and more of the ball. Chelsea are well on top now, Real Betis are struggling to get out of their defensive third. Palmer goes down looking for a free-kick and then whips a shot from 25 yards straight at Adrian. Enzo Fernandez scored but that goal is all about the left foot of Cole Palmer. Floated a beautiful cross into the six-yard box, over the head of Bartra, for the late run of Fernandez to head beyond Adrian. It was not the most powerful header and Adrian should have got a stronger hand to it. CHELSEA EQUALISE!!!What a ball from Cole Palmer 👏 he finds the run of Enzo Fernandez who deftly heads home to level the game for Chelsea! ⚽️📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Sancho has replaced Madueke and Colwill is on for Badiashille. Chelsea loft a pass over the top of the Betis defence looking for Jackson but Adrian does well to rush out of his box and clear. We're an hour into this final and Chelsea are yet to create a proper chance. No wonder Maresca is looking to change things up: Jadon Sancho is on the way. Badiashille has been shown a yellow card. Caicedo's pass hits the referee. Jadon Sancho is ready to come on for Chelsea, as well as Levi Colwill. Presumably for Badiashille as a result of that yellow card. From the resulting corner after the penalty appeal, James sees a fierce shot blocked and then Jackson's low cross is too close to Adrian. Better from Chelsea, applying more pressure now. Vociferous appeals for a Chelsea penalty! Betis goalkeeper Adrian looked to have punched Jackson in the head, after clearing the ball, from Madueke's cross. Adrian certainly got the ball first but is it dangerous play. VAR is checking... but no penalty. An injury concern for Betis here: Jesús Rodríguez is replacing the goalscorer Ezzalzouli. That is a major blow because their left-winger has looked such a threat all night. Rodríguez is a teenager with plenty of pace. Jackson with a spin into the left channel, but the flag goes up for offside and his cutback failed to find a blue shirt in any case. Real Betis looking more subdued as an attacking force, which is helping Chelsea pin them back. Reece James demonstrating the quality of his delivery straight away, drifting a cross across the face of goal. Like Gusto, James is tucking into a narrow position, trying to leave Neto isolated against his full-back. Isco runs out of room near the Chelsea corner flag after another delightful piece of skill. No surprise at all that Malo Gusto has been hooked. Sorry to say it so bluntly, but he was disastrously bad in that first half. He seemed unable to play even the most simple passes, and he was continuously beaten by dribbling opponents. Real Betis get the second half started. Reece James replaces Malo Gusto at right-back. Perraud, formerley of Southampton, is on for Rodriguez at the back for Real Betis. 20 - Real Betis' Isco made the most passes in the final third (20), created the joint-most chances (2) and completed the joint-most dribbles (2) in the first half of the UEFA Conference League final. Dictating. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 28, 2025 Chelsea have not been at the races, and they can count themselves fortunate not to be further behind. Isco and Ezzalzouli have been excellent for the Spanish team, and Maresca's changes have unsettled Chelsea. We will surely see alterations from the Chelsea manager at half-time. Chelsea do have a corner on the stroke of half time after Fernandez's shot is deflected wide. The Argentine goes across to take, but it was a booming defensive header under pressure from Chalobah. Brave goalkeeping from Adrian to sweep up at the feet of Enzo Fernandez. Reece James is going through a vigorous warm up. Malo Gusto is having a ropey night at right-back for Maresca's team. Betis now have a free-kick on the corner of the Chelsea box after a Caicedo foul on Isco. Yet another one-two played by the midfielder who has run the show so far. Jorgensen with an unconvincing punch down into his own penalty area but Natan's shot was blocked by Badiashille, and then Fornals snaps into a tackle to stop a counter. The worry for Betis will be whether the likes of Isco and Cardoso in midfield can keep up this pace for the game's entirety. A moment of confusion in the Betis defence there, with goalkeeper Adrian and centre-back Natan almost colliding but they scrambled the ball away. Real Betis are pressing in something like a 4-2-4 shape with the forwards particularly narrow. Chelsea are struggling to feed the ball into Fernandez and Palmer in the pockets. Neto takes on an ambitious shot from the corner of the box but he slashes horribly over the bar. Ezzalzouli has been a live-wire for Betis, showing his turn of pace when pushing the ball on the outside of Gusto to win a corner. Another feint from Isco to send a blue shirt the wrong way but it will not drop for a Betis player in the box. Chelsea break through Madueke but the move slows down. Chelsea now seeing more of the ball but they are struggling to play through a well-organised Betis team. Cucurella tried to go longer to Jackson but Natan and Barta snuffed out the danger. Betis are showing Chelsea wide at every opportunity. The Chelsea players aren't happy with how this game is being played. Palmer was gesturing angrily at Neto a few moments ago, after the Portuguese had not pressed as high up the pitch as his team-mate wanted. It feels a little tetchy. Better from Fernandez, knocking the ball around the corner first time to Caicedo. Neto's cross to the back post was headed away by Betis right-back Sabaly. Isco then shows his defensive diligence to win the ball back at the edge of the box. And it should be 2-0 Betis! Another swift break, with Ezzalzouli sitting down Gusto before he bobbled the pass three or four yards back to Isco but his shot was deflected over. A better pass and he was rolling that it the corner, it bounced up on him. ANOTHER HUGE CHANCE FOR BETIS!Chelsea haven't got going yet and Betis have another chance to take the lead, but Isco's effort is deflected wide 😱📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Betis are on top of Chelsea in midfield at the moment, first to the loose balls and moving the ball crisply. That was more good movement from Jackson, spinning into the right channel but Chelsea then consolidate and probe around the edge of the box, keeping possession patiently. Ambitious shot from former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra who tried to whip the ball over Jorgensen, and the Chelsea goalkeeper was at full stretch to push the ball around the post. Jackson rolls off the Betis defence to find some space, but Caicedo's shot from long range is blocked. WHAT A SAVE JORGENSEN 🧤Betis have come out firing here, and Marc Bartra steps forward from defence and fires a shot from distance that Jorgensen does magnificently to turn over the bar!📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Enzo Maresca picked Malo Gusto over Reece James and that decision to omit the Chelsea captain, although expected, has not gone well so far. It was Gusto's error in midfield, allowing Betis to suddenly attack. A fabulous assist by the great Isco, still going strong at 33. The Betis fans were loud before... they have reached another level now. Maresca has changed his goalkeeper, right-back and both centre-halves from the win at Forest, and Chelsea have started this game in a state of flux at the back. In fairness to Chelsea's manager, that win to secure Champions League football at the City Ground was more important for the club's medium-term future than tonight. What a start for the Spanish team, who have looked dangerous down their left flank right from kick-off. This chance came from a turnover in midfield, with Gusto taking a heavy touch, and Isco played a clever reverse cross across the box for Ezzalzouli who drilled a low shot into the far corner. BETIS TAKE THE LEAD 💥Fantastic ball from Isco to Ezzalzouli, as he takes a touch and fires past Jorgensen to give Betis a one-goal lead over Chelsea!📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2025 Neto thought he was fouled when cutting inside from the right but the referee tells the Chelsea winger to get to his feet. It did not look like Rodríguez made much contact with the ball. Antony with his first effort of the night, but it was always going to be difficult to keep that header down from Ezzalzouli's chipped cross. Palmer with his first foray forward down the right, and his close control freezes the Betis defenders who know they cannot touch him, but his poked effort is straight at the goalkeeper. Betis are finding plenty of space down Chelsea's right, and Ezzalzouli's low cross is straight at Jorgensen. Malo Gusto is tucking into midfield positions with Chalobah spreading across into a wide position. Madueke is playing on the left with Neto on the right. Real Betis have looked quite solid so far. Chalobah has taken an early knock after sliding across to make a challenge, with Ezzalzouli's knee catching him in the head. Nothing too serious fortunately, and the defender is back on his feet. At the other end, Jackson is pressing hard from the front but he fouls former West Ham and Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian. Chelsea get the Conference League final under way. Real Betis fans have won the all-important tifo war, let's see how far that takes them in the game. I don't think it's David v Goliath - we've got the same chance as they do of winning the title. The emotional side has to be controlled because one mistake can be costly. It's Betis' first international final, and we feel confident. We're in late May but you would not know it in Wroclaw, where the cold winds are blowing and rain is expected tonight. There were torrential downpours this morning and dark clouds are currently looming over the stadium. 0 - The oldest player in Chelsea's starting XI tonight is Marc Cucurella (26). They are only the second side to start a major UEFA final without a player aged 27+ in their XI, after Crvena zvezda v Borussia Mönchengladbach in both legs of the 1978-79 UEFA Cup final. Exuberance. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 28, 2025 The Betis fans are making all the noise so far. Their end of the ground is a throbbing, jumping set of green shirts and flags. Chelsea's section is more sparsely-populated (for now) and certainly more quiet. This is all to be expected, to be fair. After all, it's the first European final in the Spanish side's history. The Betis fans have made all the noise so far. — Sam Dean (@SamJDean) May 28, 2025 This European adventure has been an unusual one for Chelsea, who before tonight have not faced any opponents of real note. The Conference League was not designed for teams of their stature, and in truth it has been too easy to be truly engaging. In their semi-final against Djurgardens, for example, Stamford Bridge was not even close to being full. But that all changes here in Wroclaw: Betis are a proper team. They finished sixth in La Liga and have plenty of players with Premier League experience. It is not a huge surprise that Reece James has been left out of Chelsea's lineup tonight, which in itself is an indication of quite how far he has fallen over the past few years. James is fit and ready to go, but he has still been overlooked for a game of such significance. The club captain is simply not part of Enzo Maresca's starting lineup. One wonders how sustainable this situation might be in the long-term, but those are questions for later. Tonight, Chelsea have a final to win. We start to win games in an ugly way, which is something in the beginning of the season we struggled a bit. You need that at places like Nottingham Forest away. Very difficult [picking a team] because I said to the boys they all deserve to play this game and we went to six or seven countries to play games. They all deserve. It has been difficult to choose the team, but hopefully it is the right one. We would like to be in the Champions League or Europa League, but is is where we are. It is the most important competition because it is the one we are in. Well Enzo worked with me at West Ham and was also a player with me in Malaga. I think that both teams play in a similar way, attacking teams, both will try to go to the other's goal from the first minute. Real Betis XI: Adrian, Gabaly, Natan, Bartra, Rodriguez, Cardoso, Fornals, Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli, Bakambu. Subs: Vieites, Gonzalez, Perraud, Altimira, Lo Celso, Ruibal, Mendy, Rodriguez, Ortiz, Flores, Garcia Your Chelsea. #CFC | #UECLFinal — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 28, 2025 As James Ducker writes here, the Brazilian has been transformed at Betis and he is one of the players Chelsea will doubtless have identified as a main threat to their hopes of glory. Those who know Antony well talk primarily about a player and person with a spring back in his step who is no longer riddled with the anxieties, doubts and concerns that ate away at him in Manchester. Riot police in Wroclaw deployed a water cannon on Chelsea and Real Betis supporters after fans were left bloodied in violent clashes. Local police said that 28 people have been arrested following the events in the city centre after 'showing aggression towards fans of the opposing team'. The force said their investigations are ongoing, warning: 'No one will escape legal responsibility and the police will react decisively and appropriately to the situation'. Sam Dean reports here. Credit: MissRara_Avis/X Betting on the football today? Take a look at these best betting sites for free bets and betting offers. Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the second of three Uefa men's finals as Chelsea face Real Betis in the Conference League. For what can only be logistical reasons, this game in Europe's tertiary club tournament comes after the Europa League final, with the Champions League final concluding the season on Saturday. Given what Manchester United and Tottenham served up last week though, tonight's contest in Wroclaw, Poland could provide greater entertainment. This is Real Betis' first European final, so it is probably a bigger occasion for the Spanish side as suggested by the respective numbers of travelling fans. Chelsea are already in next season's Champions League, so the only thing at stake is winning a very new, unstoried trophy in a competition in which they financially dwarf the opposition. Nevertheless, win tonight and Chelsea will be the first team to win the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners' Cup and Conference League. The Cup Winners' Cup is defunct and the Conference League the least valuable of the four, but it would still be a distinction worth having and a boast to rival fans domestically. Enzo Maresca will be up against a mentor and inspiration in Manuel Pellegrini, who first encouraged him to become a coach while playing for Malaga in 2011 and gave him his break among his staff at West Ham seven years later. Chelsea are boosted by the return of striker Nicolas Jackson, who missed the final league games of the season because of suspension. The club may well look to upgrade on Jackson in this summer's transfer market, but they are a better side with him leading the line. For English fans, the player to keep an eye on in the Betis team is Manchester United misfit Antony, who has found a new lease of life since moving to La Liga on loan. He will have his work cut out against Marc Curcurella. Full team news on the way shortly.
