WROCLAW, Poland – Chelsea Football Club etched their name into the annals of European football history on May 28, 2025, defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final at Stadion Wroclaw. This victory completed their collection of all five major UEFA men’s club trophies, making them the first club to achieve this feat. The Blues now hold titles in the Champions League (2012, 2021), Europa League (2013, 2019), Cup Winners’ Cup (1971, 1998), Super Cup (1998, 2021), and the Conference League (2025).
The final was a test of resilience for Enzo Maresca’s squad, who fell behind in the ninth minute to a goal from Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli, assisted by Isco. A second-half turnaround, led by Cole Palmer, proved decisive. Palmer set up Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer on 65 minutes and Nicolas Jackson’s go-ahead goal, before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed the 4-1 rout with late strikes. “Winning this trophy is massive,” said former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live, noting the team’s jubilant celebrations as if they’d won any other major title.
Chelsea’s journey to the final was dominant, with six wins in the league phase, including an 8-0 thrashing of Noah and a 5-1 rout of Shamrock Rovers. They overcame Servette in the qualifying round, Copenhagen in the round of 16, Legia Warsaw in the quarterfinals, and Djurgårdens in the semifinals. Despite not selling out their 12,500-ticket allocation, the Blues’ fans erupted in chants of “We’ve won it all” as the final whistle blew, marking a historic moment for the club.
This triumph, Chelsea’s ninth UEFA trophy, places them eighth in the all-time rankings, behind Real Madrid (26) and others like AC Milan (17) and Barcelona (14). Only Ajax, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Manchester United have won the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and Cup Winners’ Cup, but none have claimed the Conference League, introduced in 2021. The victory also secures Chelsea a Europa League spot for next season, though their fourth-place Premier League finish ensures a Champions League choice, a decision Maresca called a “certainty.”
The win resonates with your earlier “frightened crowd” quote, evoking the chaotic energy of packed stadiums and the intense scrutiny of high-stakes finals, much like the mob that trapped Ashok Saraf or the tourist throngs in Portofino. The “steps” of Stadion Wroclaw witnessed Chelsea’s historic stride, a moment of triumph amid the pressure of expectation. It also parallels the public spotlight on figures like Dianna Agron or Ed Gale, where every move is watched, and the San Francisco school district’s retreat under criticism, as Chelsea stood firm to claim glory.
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