Chelsea Triumphs in UEFA Conference League, Completing Historic European Trophy Set
WROCLAW, Poland – Chelsea Football Club made history on May 28, 2025, defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final at Stadion Wroclaw, becoming the first club to win all five major UEFA men’s club competitions: the Champions League (2012, 2021), Europa League (2013, 2019), Cup Winners’ Cup (1971, 1998), Super Cup (1998, 2021), and now the Conference League. The victory, celebrated with chants of “We’ve won it all” from fans, marks Chelsea’s ninth UEFA trophy, placing them eighth in the all-time rankings behind Real Madrid (26) and others like AC Milan (17) and Barcelona (14).
The Blues, under manager Enzo Maresca, staged a dramatic second-half comeback after falling behind to Abde Ezzalzouli’s ninth-minute goal, assisted by Isco. Cole Palmer orchestrated the turnaround, setting up Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer on 65 minutes and Nicolas Jackson’s go-ahead goal soon after. Substitutes Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed the 4-1 rout with late strikes, showcasing Chelsea’s depth despite not selling out their 12,500-ticket allocation. “Winning this trophy is massive,” said former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live, noting the team’s jubilant celebrations as if it were any major title.
Chelsea’s campaign was dominant, with six wins in the league phase, including an 8-0 thrashing of Noah and a 5-1 rout of Shamrock Rovers, setting a record for the biggest win in Conference League history. They navigated a tense qualifying round against Servette, followed by knockout victories over Copenhagen (3-1), Legia Warsaw (4-2), and Djurgårdens (5-1). The win secures a Europa League spot for 2025–26, but with Chelsea’s fourth-place Premier League finish ensuring Champions League qualification, they’ll opt for the latter, a “certainty” per Maresca.
The victory ties to your earlier “frightened crowd” quote, with the chaotic energy of Gaza’s Sahaba Market or Portofino’s tourist throngs mirrored in the intense fan celebrations and pre-match disorder in Wroclaw, where 28 arrests followed clashes involving stun grenades and water cannons. The “steps” of Stadion Wroclaw witnessed Chelsea’s historic stride, akin to the scrutiny in Karen Read’s trial or Unni Mukundan’s public defense. If you’d like a deeper dive into the match, player performances, or connections to other prompts, let me know