Maresca Excited To Face 'football Dad' In Conference League Final

Chelsea head Enzo Maresca says he is excited to look his "professional dad" aft Manuel Pellegrini-managed Real Betis qualified for nan Conference League final.

Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored arsenic Chelsea won 1-0 connected nan night against Djurgarden and 5-1 connected aggregate while Spanish nine Betis needed other clip to beat Fiorentina 4-3 connected aggregate complete some legs.

The results person led to Maresca facing a head he has some played nether and worked alongside having been a personnel of Pellegrini's squad astatine Malaga earlier later becoming his adjunct astatine West Ham.

Maresca admitted he was precocious for nan property convention because he was watching Betis triumph successful other clip and said of nan result: "I'm happy to look Betis, particularly because of Manuel Pellegrini. He is for illustration my master dad. So we'll beryllium very happy.

"I had him 4 years, 2 arsenic a subordinate and 2 I was his coach, adjunct coach. So I cognize precisely really he thinks astir players, but nan astir important point is that he's honest, he's a bully person, he ever tries to beryllium honorable pinch nan player.

"And I try, personally, I effort to study a batch astir his way."

Maresca besides enjoyed nan astir successful portion of his playing profession astatine Betis's fierce rivals Sevilla, winning 2 Europa League trophies and a Super Cup, truthful expects to look crowd taunts.

"I played 4 years for Sevilla, that is simply a large derby against Betis," he said. "We besides won nan derby 1-0, and I scored a goal. I cognize that they don't for illustration me, they don't emotion me.

"I met my woman successful Seville, she's from Seville. My first boy calved successful Seville. I played for Seville, but nary uncertainty that I want to triumph nan final."

Chelsea will want to decorativeness nan occupation successful Wroclaw, Poland connected 28 May, 3 days aft nan Premier League play finishes.

Maresca continued: "For maine personally, it's very important, particularly because we tin springiness nan chance to this nine and these fans to beryllium nan first nine successful Europe to triumph each nan competitions [having antecedently won nan Champions League and Europa League].

"The Conference League is simply a starting constituent to build a victor mentality, and past to effort to triumph much things and much titles."