Chelsea booked their place in the UEFA Conference League final with a composed 1-0 win over Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge, sealing a 5-1 aggregate triumph and setting up a title clash with Real Betis in Wroclaw on May 28.
With the hard work already done in Sweden last week, Enzo Maresca rotated heavily, making ten changes and handing a senior debut to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, but the Blues still made light work of their Swedish visitors.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s composed first-half finish extended the aggregate lead and ended any faint hopes of a Djurgarden fightback.
The night offered a glimpse of Chelsea’s future, with teenage duo Shim Mheuka and Genesis Antwi also earning minutes off the bench.
It was a professional display from a side quietly building momentum under Maresca, who now has a chance to deliver both his first piece of silverware and the club’s first post-Abramovich trophy.
The final in Poland will be Chelsea’s eighth European final and their first since conquering Europe’s elite with a Champions League triumph over Manchester City in 2021.
Real Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, await after edging Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate after extra time in the other semi-final.
