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Enzo Maresca's half-time masterstroke hands Chelsea Europa Conference League title
Chelsea have won the Europa Conference League thanks to Enzo Maresca's half-time masterstroke that saw Reece James introduced to the action
Enzo Maresca's shocking decision not to start Reece James almost cost Chelsea the Europa Conference League final - before his half-time masterstroke.
Maresca, 45, opted to start Malo Gusto instead of his club captain in their biggest game of the season against Real Betis. And Gusto looked off the pace from the opening minute as Betis carved open the Blues defence.
Isco was at the centre of it all for the opening stages of the game, and he danced through the Blues defence, playing the ball into the path of Abde Ezzalzouli, who drilled the ball home.
Lucy Ward, who was on co-commentary for TNT Sports, had questioned if Maresca's decision to make so many changes: "I was quite surprised that Colwill didn't start because he has been in such good form.
"But everybody has taken part in this Conference League run for Chelsea. They have changed their team so many times and they have performed."
She added: "Ezzalzouli is causing Gusto all sorts of problems on Chelsea's right. He is the go-to for Real Betis at the moment."
The opening half was everything that Maresca has been criticised for at Chelsea this season. The Blues were slow, ponderous and unthreatening while were being ripped apart on the break.
Chelsea fans chanted "Reece James, he's one of our own" as the full-back warmed up at half-time, and he was inevitably introduced when the two sides came out for the second half.
"You're only 1-0 down, but this is where you [Enzo Maresco] earn your coin. Make the right decisions at half-time," Pat Nevin warned on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Steve Sidwell, on TNT Sports, added: "A change needed to happen for Chelsea. I was surprised Reece James didn't start in the first place. You play your captain in a European cup final. Malo Gusto wasn't at the races."
Chelsea were in the ascendancy with fresh legs, and they hit back after a delightful ball picked out an onrushing Enzo Fernandes, who headed home.
Cole Palmer was suddenly controlling the game, and, after a wonderful turn and cross, he fired a ball into the path of Nicolas Jackson who turned it home.
Palmer, in the second half, was the Palmer of last season - he was utterly unplayable.
Jadon Sancho thought he had rounded out the evening in style, dropping his shoulder and wrapping the ball in the far corner of the goal as Betis looked well and truly beaten.
However, even with the game won, Moises Caicedo continued to hammer the spirits of the Betis fans, finding the net in stoppage time.
Daily Star Sunday
Chelsea have won the Europa Conference League thanks to Enzo Maresca's half-time masterstroke that saw Reece James introduced to the action
Enzo Maresca's shocking decision not to start Reece James almost cost Chelsea the Europa Conference League final - before his half-time masterstroke.
Maresca, 45, opted to start Malo Gusto instead of his club captain in their biggest game of the season against Real Betis. And Gusto looked off the pace from the opening minute as Betis carved open the Blues defence.
Isco was at the centre of it all for the opening stages of the game, and he danced through the Blues defence, playing the ball into the path of Abde Ezzalzouli, who drilled the ball home.
Lucy Ward, who was on co-commentary for TNT Sports, had questioned if Maresca's decision to make so many changes: "I was quite surprised that Colwill didn't start because he has been in such good form.
"But everybody has taken part in this Conference League run for Chelsea. They have changed their team so many times and they have performed."
She added: "Ezzalzouli is causing Gusto all sorts of problems on Chelsea's right. He is the go-to for Real Betis at the moment."
The opening half was everything that Maresca has been criticised for at Chelsea this season. The Blues were slow, ponderous and unthreatening while were being ripped apart on the break.
Chelsea fans chanted "Reece James, he's one of our own" as the full-back warmed up at half-time, and he was inevitably introduced when the two sides came out for the second half.
"You're only 1-0 down, but this is where you [Enzo Maresco] earn your coin. Make the right decisions at half-time," Pat Nevin warned on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Steve Sidwell, on TNT Sports, added: "A change needed to happen for Chelsea. I was surprised Reece James didn't start in the first place. You play your captain in a European cup final. Malo Gusto wasn't at the races."
Chelsea were in the ascendancy with fresh legs, and they hit back after a delightful ball picked out an onrushing Enzo Fernandes, who headed home.
Cole Palmer was suddenly controlling the game, and, after a wonderful turn and cross, he fired a ball into the path of Nicolas Jackson who turned it home.
Palmer, in the second half, was the Palmer of last season - he was utterly unplayable.
Jadon Sancho thought he had rounded out the evening in style, dropping his shoulder and wrapping the ball in the far corner of the goal as Betis looked well and truly beaten.
However, even with the game won, Moises Caicedo continued to hammer the spirits of the Betis fans, finding the net in stoppage time.
Daily Star Sunday