Former Chelsea defender stresses importance of Conference League win | OneFootball

Former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair has stressed the importance of Champions League football for the Blues next season.

Enzo Maresca and his players secured their place among Europe’s elite on the final day of the Premier League campaign by edging out Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea will return to the Champions League next term following a two-year hiatus. In an exclusive with The Football Faithful, Sinclair explained why qualification was crucial for several reasons.

“It was so important for Chelsea to get Champions League football as this was likely the minimum requirement from the ownership at the start of the season,” Sinclair told TFF, in association with William Hill.

“It now means the financial revenue will be excellent and they will attract better players for next season as well.

“Chelsea have spent a lot of money, so they had to see some return here and now they can look and assess the squad ahead of a new campaign in the top European competition.”

Under the reign of Roman Abramovich and successor Todd Boehly, Chelsea have become characterised as a club that ruthlessly changes management. Following their Europa Conference League final win over Real Betis on Wednesday, Sinclair hopes the club’s success gives current boss Maresca more time to develop his budding squad.

“He [Maresca] has done really well at the business end of the season to guide Chelsea to Champions League football and to win a European Trophy,” the former defender stated.

“You can’t underestimate what it means to him, the club and the new ownership to bring home their first trophy.

“The confidence it brings to the squad is excellent and they can now build on this.”

After falling behind early on to Abdessamad Ezzalzouli’s cultured finish, Chelsea produced an emphatic comeback in the second half. Captain Enzo Fernandez drew them level, before Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caideo netted to secure the trophy in Poland.

Sinclair, no stranger to European success with the Blues having lifted the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998, praised the response from his former side.

“Their second-half performance was exceptional,” the 53-year-old said.

“They blew Betis away and they couldn’t cope with Cole Palmer. His assists were top class and the substitutions from the manager were very good.

“It lifted the team and they got stronger and stronger. When they took the lead, Betis were a shadow of their first-half performance.”

The victory in Wroclaw was the final step towards an unprecedented feat. Chelsea became the first club to win all three major existing European competitions – the Champions League, Europa League and the Europa Conference League. Sinclair was quick to reiterate the significance of the achievement, with many critics undermining the trophy win.

“It’s big. Although it’s not a competition you want to be in, you still have to win it and to complete the European treble is no mean feat.

“Congratulations to the club, they continue to prove they win silverware all the time and are serial winners. This is something the club can be proud of as they look to further grow their footprint around the world.”

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