Why the UEFA Conference League is such a blessing

I wasn’t particularly thrilled when we qualified for Europe’s third-tier competition last season. Much as I enjoyed our improved performances at the tail-end of the season, I was silently hoping we wouldn’t qualify for any European tournament. I love trophies as much as any football fan, especially when they give me another reason to gloat over our less-decorated North London neighbors.

But Chelsea has been in a state of reconstruction for the past two-three seasons. Additional midweek football, so close to the weekend, would be an unwarranted distraction when a new coach would be trying to get a disparate cast of recent signings to read from the same script. Add to that long flights to the far-flung corners of the continent.

8-Hour Trip to Kazakhstan, anyone?

Yesterday’s encounter saw the Blues travel over 4,000 miles to Kazakhstan’s mountainous former capital. Chelsea FC manager Enzo Maresca allowed himself a little moan about the length of the journey in the pre-game presser: “Eight hours is not a normal time for a game…but we have to go there, we have to play.” Asked if his first-team regulars would have wanted to accompany him for the game against the Kazakhstan Premier League’s number two team, Maresca was typically diplomatic.

But it was clear that the likes of Cole Palmer and Moisés Caiceido would rather be saving up their energies for Brentford on Sunday. Apart from exhausting themselves on such grueling journeys ahead of crucial matches, I also dreaded the prospect of our star players twisting ankles or pulling hamstrings on dodgy playing surfaces.

Misplaced fears

My fears are now looking a tad bit misplaced, I’m glad to say. The UEFA Conference League is proving a blessing in disguise for Chelsea. We’re sitting at the top of the 36-team standings table having won all five of our games. Barring some apocalyptic event, I don’t see any of our opponents stopping us from claiming the trophy our cherished former boss Jose Mourinho won with AS Roma in 2022.

Yes, I’m low-key excited about the prospect of Chelsea claiming the remaining jewel in our European crown. But the competition is becoming a valuable part of our season for another reason; load management. Maresca is using the Conference League to give those million-pound signings who don’t see regular English Premier League action an opportunity to stake their claim for a starting position while retaining their match-fitness.    

When opportunity knocks...

And they’re grabbing the chance with both hands, or feet. Yesterday, Marc Guiu ghosted past FC Astana defenders like Casper and completed his move with an ice-cold finish well suited to the sub-zero temperatures they were playing in. I remember the Spaniard coming on during our season opener against Manchester City.

We were 1-0 down and the manager was hoping some of the forward’s Barcelona magic would work where Nicholas Jackson had failed. He only succeeded in making the City backline look impenetrable though he had a whole half-hour to make a difference. But the inhospitable conditions at Almaty provided the teenager with a platform to remind Maresca of his powers and show the world how far he’s come from his forgettable season opener.  

Dewsbury-Hall comes alive

The competition has also brought the best out of Christopher Nkunku- he’s scored five goals in the four Conference League games he’s been involved in. His exclusion from last night’s game in Kazakhstan could be evidence that the coach has seen enough improvement in the French forward. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also left the Almaty Ortalyk stadium with an assist. His pinpoint corner was nodded home by Renato Veiga to show that Arsenal is not the only side invested in scoring from set-pieces.

The former Leicester City midfielder has not been afforded much Premier League game time despite being one of the key pieces in Maresca’s Championship-winning squad last season. Perhaps these nights of frigid football in the remote corners of the continent will imbue the Englishman with the tenacity to fight Caiceido and Enzo Fernandez for a starting berth in the games that ‘matter’. 

Academy graduates show up

Defenders Axel Disasi, our captain for the evening, and fellow defenders Tosin Adaraboiyo and Josh Acheampong also put in solid displays on the tricky artificial turf. The latter was particularly impressive given that he’s only 18 years old and was playing for the first time as a starter in Chelsea’s senior team.

Should anything happen to Malo Gusto, we will have an able replacement for him at right-back. There were also solid performances from Tyrique George and Samuel Rak-Saky, Acheampong’s fellow Corbham graduates. Without this match, they would have had to wait for the next Carabao League Cup game to show the coach what they’re capable of. 

Arduous as the journey was, there was plenty to smile about after the final whistle. Three points, pole position on the table and a bigger selection headache for Maresca. Thank heavens UEFA thought it wise to add to UCL and Europa.