Reece James backs Chelsea to push on in the Champions League after beating Real Betis to win Conference League | OneFootball

Reece James praised his Chelsea team-mates for achieving their expectation of winning the Conference League trophy.

The Blues came from behind in Poland to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final.

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli gave the Spanish side a first-half lead but Enzo Maresca’s side turned it around after the break, with Cole Palmer setting up goals for both Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo completed a dominant win for their side.

Chelsea will return to Europe’s elite competition next season after finishing fourth in the Premier League and captain James says winning silverware is a huge boost for Maresca’s young side.

“I’ve said it in many interviews this week, coming into this competition, it was something we had to win ever since we got entered,” James told TNT Sports.

“Next season, we go again in the Champions League.

“We knew the game was going to be tough and I think they (Betis) showed that in the first half. They made it tough for us and got an early goal and it kind of unsettled us.

“But as the game went on we grew into it and thankfully we scored four goals in the second half.

“I thought in the first half, we were very flat. The game didn’t go our way early on and it looked like it took a lot out of us.

“We needed a reaction in the second half and we got it.”

James was a surprise omission from the starting line-up for the final, but replaced Malo Gusto at half-time to play his part in his side’s turnaround.

“Of course it is devastating to know you are not starting in a final,” James admitted.

“I want to play every game but it was the manager’s decision. Once he made the decision, I had to move on and accept it and be ready when I was needed.”