The Importance of the UEFA Conference League for Chelsea
As the UEFA Conference League continues to gain significance, Chelsea and their head coach Enzo Maresca find themselves in a crucial position. The competition, initially not a priority, has now become a potential lifeline for the club’s European ambitions.
When the campaign began, Maresca opted to rest key players like Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, and Romeo Lavia, focusing on the Premier League. However, Chelsea’s success in the group stage, winning all six matches, has shifted the narrative.
Unexpected Significance of the Conference League
Chelsea’s entry into the third-tier European competition was initially met with disappointment. The club had hoped to qualify for the more financially rewarding Europa League, but a surprise FA Cup victory by Manchester United demoted them to the Conference League.
Now, the possibility of winning the Conference League final in May and securing a spot in the Europa League next season has become Chelsea’s best chance of playing European football in 2025-26.
Maresca has spoken of the club’s target to qualify for the Champions League through a top-four or top-five finish in the Premier League. However, the recent downturn in form has raised concerns about their ability to achieve this goal.
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The standings suggest that a top-four or top-five finish is still within reach, but the recent form table tells a different story. Chelsea’s return of just nine points from their last 10 Premier League matches puts them in 16th spot, with only the eight points collected by Manchester United and the three clubs in the relegation zone below them.
This poor form has led to a narrowing of the gap between Chelsea and the teams around them in the table. The once sizeable 11-point advantage over 10th place has now been reduced to a mere four points, with Fulham currently occupying that position.
The lack of clean sheets and the inability to score more than one goal consistently have contributed to Chelsea’s struggles. Maresca’s optimism about their remaining home games providing the necessary points to finish in the top four is understandable, but the pressure on the players to deliver maximum points will be immense.
Chelsea’s away form has also been a concern, with the team failing to win a match away from Stamford Bridge for over two months. The upcoming away fixtures against Arsenal, Brentford, Fulham, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest are all expected to be challenging.
In this context, the Conference League has taken on greater significance for Chelsea and Maresca. The addition of Cole Palmer to the squad for the knockout phase suggests that the club is now taking the competition more seriously, recognizing it as a potential path to European football next season.
With Chelsea being the strong favorites to win the trophy from the start, the Conference League could become the only salvage for their season if the Premier League form does not improve soon.
(Top photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
