Chelsea Reach Conference League Final with 5-1 Djurgarden Aggregate Victory

Chelsea secured their place in the UEFA Conference League final with a 1-0 home win over Djurgarden, culminating in a 5-1 aggregate victory. Manager Enzo Maresca made extensive squad rotations, including handing a first senior start to 16-year-old academy graduate Reggie Walsh, who became Chelsea’s youngest starter in a European match since 1967. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the decisive goal after a pass from Tyrique George, another young academy talent, highlighting Chelsea’s continued reliance on their youth system amidst a transitional period for the club. Chelsea will face Real Betis in the final in Wroclaw on May 28, aiming to become the first club to win all three of UEFA’s current competitions. While the Conference League has provided a platform for Maresca to integrate young players, the club's primary objective remains securing Champions League qualification via a top-five Premier League finish. This final marks Chelsea’s eighth European final and their first since winning the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.