Chelsea will face Real Betis in the UEFA Europa Conference League final later this month after comfortably seeing off Djurgarden in their semi-final clash at Stamford Bridge.
Despite making 10 changes from the side that defeated Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday — and handing a senior debut to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh — the Blues eased to a 5-1 aggregate win without much trouble.
The final, set to take place in the Polish city of Wroclaw on May 28, will see Enzo Maresca’s side go up against Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis, who edged out Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate after extra time in the other semi-final.
Chelsea, already 4-1 up from the first leg in Sweden, extended their lead when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slotted home from just inside the area after being played in by Tyrique George.
The visiting Djurgarden supporters remained vocal throughout the evening, but their team couldn’t mount a comeback. Chelsea saw out the match comfortably, even introducing two more teenage talents — 17-year-olds Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi — in the second half.
This marks Chelsea’s eighth appearance in a European final and their first since the 2021 Champions League triumph over Manchester City under Thomas Tuchel.
For current head coach Enzo Maresca, the final represents a chance to claim his first piece of silverware — and the club’s first major trophy in the post-Roman Abramovich era.
