Chelsea's Key Decisions Shape a Memorable Night
Anyone watching Chelsea this season knows Enzo Maresca loves his tactical puzzles. Heading into the 2025 UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis, he faced a pair of headaches: where to get the best out of Nicolas Jackson and whether Reece James was ready for a high-stakes start, especially with Malo Gusto struggling to lock down the right-back spot. But as the night unfolded in front of anxious fans, those choices proved pivotal.
In his initial setup, Maresca sent Jackson out in his usual striker's role, while sticking with Gusto at right-back. It looked pretty standard, but Betis exploited Chelsea's early nerves. With Chelsea a goal down after a sluggish first half, something had to change—and quickly.
Maresca’s Halftime Overhaul Turns the Tide
After the break, Maresca reached for his ace in the sleeve, sending on Reece James for Gusto. The captain immediately started barking orders and organizing the backline, calming a defense that had looked edgy. James didn't just protect the right flank; he started driving forward, linking up with midfield and giving Real Betis' battered left side even more problems. For the first time all night, Chelsea’s back four looked settled and confident.
The next big twist came up front. Instead of sticking Jackson through the middle—a spot where he’d sometimes struggled with his back to goal—Maresca told him to shift out to the wing. Suddenly, Jackson's speed and directness were on full display as he pulled defenders out wide and created space for teammates. The impact was immediate: in the 70th minute, Jackson darted in from the left and smashed home Chelsea's second to turn the game on its head.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer was given a freer role, floating between the lines and taking full advantage of Real Betis' misery after their left-back Ricardo Rodriguez hobbled off. Palmer became the creative spark, threading passes and finding gaps in a stretched Betis defense that just couldn't regroup.
The momentum shift was stunning. Enzo Fernández drew Chelsea level in the 65th minute, finishing off a slick move orchestrated by Palmer. Five minutes later, Jackson struck. Jadon Sancho put the game to bed in the 83rd, and Moises Caicedo completed the rout deep into stoppage time. Each goal bore the mark of Maresca's tactical tweaks: high pressure, positional rotations, and exploiting Betis’ weak side.
With the Conference League final spotlight shining bright, Chelsea delivered spectacularly when it mattered most. A nervy, stuttering start gave way to a four-goal masterclass, all built on shrewd halftime adjustments and players thriving in new roles. By the final whistle, the celebrations told their own story—Chelsea, European champions once again, but this time with a new blueprint to build on.