'Chelsea are back' if they win Europa Conference League, Maresca insists

Enzo Maresca says winning the Europa Conference League would represent the fact "Chelsea are back", ahead of their semi-final second leg against Djurgarden.

The Blues were widely expected to go all the way in this competition, and have backed up those expectations thus far, winning 10 of their 11 matches to have one foot in the final.

Maresca's side hold a commanding 4-1 advantage over Djurgarden after last week's first leg in Sweden, and will hope it is a formality when the teams reconvene at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Following last weekend's 3-1 win over recently crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, Chelsea are very much in contention to qualify for next season's Champions League via their league position of fifth.

While that will be their main focus, the Blues will also have an eye on becoming the first team to win all three existing European competitions, adding to their Champions League triumphs of 2012 and 2021, as well as their 2013 Europa League success.

Attention turns to our #UECL semi-final second leg. pic.twitter.com/QgVwXX8rRn
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 7, 2025

And ending the season with silverware is high on the priority list of Maresca, who confirmed six-goal Marc Guiu could be involved in the squad after three months out with a hamstring injury.

"It's very important for us, for different reasons," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

"But mainly, because we want this club winning trophies. Winning a trophy is a statement, and you [could then] say Chelsea are back.

"If we play in the Conference [League], it's because it's where we are. [And] if you play in the Conference [League], the only trophy you can win is the Conference [League]. I think it's a good starting point."