Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is looking forward to facing his former mentor, Manuel Pellegrini, after Real Betis qualified for the Conference League final. Betis secured their place with a 4-3 aggregate win over Fiorentina, with extra time needed to seal the victory. Chelsea, on the other hand, triumphed 1-0 over Djurgarden on the night and 5-1 on aggregate, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring the lone goal.
Maresca, who previously played under Pellegrini and later served as his assistant, will now go head-to-head with the manager he calls his “professional dad.” The two shared a strong bond during their time together at Malaga and West Ham, and Maresca expressed his excitement at the upcoming match.
“I’m happy to face Betis, especially because of Manuel Pellegrini. He is like my professional dad. I had him for four years, two as a player and two as his assistant coach,” Maresca said. “I know how he thinks about players. The most important thing is that he’s honest, he’s a good person, and he always tries to be honest with the player. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Maresca’s connection to Betis is complicated by his past with their rivals, Sevilla, where he enjoyed the most successful years of his playing career, winning two Europa League trophies and a Super Cup. This history, Maresca admits, could lead to some hostile crowd reactions.
“I played four years for Sevilla, which is a big derby against Betis,” he said. “I also scored a goal in the derby, and I know they don’t love me. But no doubt, I want to win the final.”
Chelsea’s upcoming match against Betis in the Conference League final, set for 28 May in Wroclaw, Poland, will come just three days after the Premier League season ends. Maresca sees this opportunity as a major stepping stone for the club.
“For me personally, this final is very important. It’s a chance for the club and the fans to be the first in Europe to win all the major competitions, having already won the Champions League and Europa League,” he said. “The Conference League is a starting point to build a winning mentality and go on to win more titles.”
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