Joe Cole says Chelsea fans can ‘fall in love’ with squad again after club bounce back from ‘mess’ to win UEFA Conference League
Published 29/05/2025 at 00:05 GMT+1
Chelsea delivered a stunning comeback in their 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final. The Blues scored four unanswered goals in the second half after going a goal down early on, as their young squad lifted the first piece of silverware under Enzo Maresca. TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described the moment as one where "fans can fall in love with the team".
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Joe Cole said that Chelsea's UEFA Conference League victory can stand as a moment where "fans can fall in love with the team".
Having clinched UEFA Champions League football for next season with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, Enzo Maresca added to an already successful season by beating Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final.
TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole spent the post-match analysis heaping praise on The Blues squad and Cole Palmer in particular, noting that a win like this can be a moment that inspires fans to fall in love with Maresca's young side.
"What I want from a night like tonight, this is where the fans can fall in love with the team," Cole said. "Now there's a moment when you fall in love with your missus, or something like that, love at first sight, and I hope it's tonight with these fans.
"The club was a mess three years ago, and they've gone right, we're going down this road - young players and long contracts. Watching the team grow together, that could become a special team.
Speaking alongside Cole, former Chelsea player Steve Sidwell called the players "heroes".
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"They're heroes tonight, and the manager as well, and this is where the club can really use it as a platform," Sidwell said.
"It's getting that connection back with the fans. There are going to be ups and downs, but they've got to trust in this squad."
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Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo contributed the four goals that Chelsea fired in throughout the second half to secure a comeback win and a trophy that clinches a unique European treble.
For a lot of onlookers, the midfield duo of Fernanandez and Caicedo have improved immensely under Maresca this season, and in conjunction with Cole Palmer, were beyond crucial against Betis.
Palmer, who rarely gives anything away in interviews, spoke soon after the final whistle alongside club captain Reece James, who starred as a second-half substitute, replacing Malo Gusto.
"It's a great feeling. We knew the game was going to be tough and they showed that in the first half," James said.
"They made it tough for us and got an early goal. They kind of unsettled us. But as the game went on, we grew into it and thankfully scored four goals in the second half.
"It's devastating to know you're not playing in a final, or not starting. I want to play every game, but it was the manager's decision and once he makes the decision I need to accept it, move on and be ready to come in if I'm needed.
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"I thought in the first half we were very flat. The game didn't go on our way early on. It looked like it took a lot out of us. We needed a reaction in the second half and we got it.
"I've said it in many interviews this season coming into this competition, it was something we had to win, ever since we got entered. Next season, we go again in the Champions League."
Talking next to James, Palmer offered a simplistic summation of his influence on the game, saying: "I just felt like I was trying to find the space as the game got going."
Chelsea's win sees them become the first side to win all three modern UEFA competitions, clinching the Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and now the Conference League.
"To be the only team in history, it's a great feeling," concluded Palmer.
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