Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is facing an old friend and battling a former foe. The Italian is genuinely delighted the Conference League final against Real Betis pits him against his ‘football dad’ Manuel Pellegrini, who first encouraged him to become a coach while playing for Malaga in 2011 and gave him his break among his coaching staff at West Ham seven years later.
With Pellegrini now in charge of Betis, Maresca watched the final 30 minutes of the Spanish side’s semi-final win over Fiorentina after Chelsea had comfortably saw off Swedish club Djurgarden. But while he has a friend and father figure in the opposing dugout, Maresca expects Betis supporters to boo him after excelling during his playing career at city rivals Sevilla.
There will also be tension of a different kind among the Chelsea support in Poland. While ownership and sporting directors plan to evaluate Maresca after the end of the 2025-26 season, effectively giving him another year, winning a first trophy will be important to convince Blues fans of his worth.
That’s why this is Maresca’s final: one of emotion, joy and implications for his future.
