Chelsea became the first club in history to win all the available European Cup trophies after they beat Real Betis in the Conference League on May 28.
The Blues had their lead reduced by the Spanish team in the first half when Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli scored within 10 minutes at the Tarczyński stadium in Wrocław.
However, Enzo Maresca’s team gained momentum in the second half, netting four goals to dominate Betis and secure their first title since the change in ownership.
Securing this victory ensured a robust conclusion to the season, following their recent qualification for the Champions League a few days prior. Chelsea defeated Nottingham Forest on the last day of the Premier League campaign, ultimately claiming the fourth spot in the league table.
Nevertheless, a specific UEFA regulation might allow the West London club to bypass a return to the Champions League and opt for the Europa League instead.
As previously stated, Chelsea secured their spot in the Champions League by placing within the top four of the Premier League. Additionally, having won the Conference League, they have also earned a place in the upcoming season’s Europa League.
Needless to say, Chelsea would rather compete in the Champions League, however, they possess the option to decide due to the UEFA regulations.
This rule mainly serves to accommodate clubs from lesser-ranking leagues who typically begin their journey towards the Champions League in the playoff stages.
These teams can never be sure they will participate in the Champions League, so instead of taking that risk, they are offered the choice to automatically qualify for the next lower-level competition which they have also earned.
The aim is to address a scenario where a club from one of Europe’s lesser-ranked leagues wins the Conference League. Should these teams secure their spot in the Champions League qualifiers via their domestic performance, they might not automatically qualify for the Europa League. If they find navigating through the Champions League qualification stage too challenging, they have the option to instead participate directly in the group stages of the Europa League by taking advantage of the slot awarded for winning the Conference League.
Chelsea has no reservations about competing in the Champions League and is expected to be placed in Pot 1 for the draw scheduled later this year.
More to follow.
