Real Betis’ hopes of European glory were dashed in Poland as Chelsea stormed to a 4-1 win in the UEFA Conference League final, but much of the talk post-match centred on Abde Ezzalzouli.
The Moroccan winger had given Betis a dream start, finding the net in the ninth minute with a smart finish and causing chaos down Chelsea’s right flank. His direct running and creativity set the tone early on, and for a while, the Andalusians looked in control.
But everything changed shortly after the break. Ezzalzouli went down holding his ankle and was forced off in the 54th minute.
His absence proved costly. “We were limited by injuries,” admitted Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini. “Abde had a twisted ankle and couldn’t continue. All the damage we were doing down his side, they started doing to us after he left.”
The momentum shifted immediately. Chelsea equalised through Enzo Fernández in the 65th minute, before goals from Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moisés Caicedo sealed the comeback.
Supporters were quick to claim that Ezzalzouli’s exit was the turning point. The drop-off in Betis’ attacking threat was stark once he came off, and Chelsea took full advantage.
For Chelsea, the victory marked a piece of history. They are now the first club to win all major European trophies: Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and now the Conference League.
