Chelsea discovered on Saturday that they’ll be playing in the UEFA Conference League competition next season. Interestingly, many Blues fans have reacted to the news in the same way on social media.
Chelsea’s strong end to the Premier League campaign, winning their last five consecutive matches, was enough to secure sixth position in the table. Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino still left the club by mutual agreement, though.
The Blues guaranteed themselves some form of European football for next season by finishing sixth in the league, but their fate was decided this weekend during the FA Cup final.
Chelsea would enter next year’s Europa League with Manchester City winning the FA Cup. Alternatively, Manchester United winning the domestic trophy would nudge Chelsea down to the Conference League, which is the lowest ranked of three European competitions.
Man United saved their best performance of the season to beat Man City 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in Saturday’s FA Cup final, earning themselves a Europa League spot in the process. As for Chelsea, it’s the Conference League for the first time in their history.
Chelsea fans agree on Conference League
Surprisingly, there’s plenty of Chelsea supporters on social media that aren’t too downbeat with qualifying for the Conference League rather than the Europa League.
It’s been pointed out that Chelsea will be bidding to be the first club in history to win every European trophy. Admittedly, the Conference League was only formed in the 2021/22 season.
The previous winners of the competition were Roma and West Ham. Olympiacos play Fiorentina on Wednesday night in the third ever final of the tournament.
Here are some Chelsea fans on X explaining why Conference League qualification is a good thing:
One fan said: “Look at the positives, Chelsea Football Club now with the opportunity to be the ONLY club to have won every European trophy.”
Another wrote: “Conference league here we come. The only trophy we haven’t won yet.”
One supporter posted: “Conference league is better than no Europe.”
Another claimed: “I can’t speak for the majority but I am genuinely happy we are playing some form of European football. Conference league gives us the unique opportunity to complete the set. Hopefully we get a manager good enough as well.”
Finally, another said: “It’s the conference league but we’ve secured more game time for the squad players and a chance to complete the set in Europe. Not bad!”
TCC agrees with supporters
It would have been preferable to be in the Europa League, where the fixtures are a bit more glamorous and the prize is a bit more respected.
However, The Chelsea Chronicle agrees that Chelsea can go into the Conference League with lots to be positive about.
The next Blues head coach, whoever that may be, should have a great opportunity to win a European trophy in their first season. It may be a great chance to blood some youngsters and rotate the squad, too.
Chelsea enter the Conference League tournament at the play-off round stage, where a win over a two-legged tie would secure a spot in the main league stage.
Blues supporters regularly like to chant ‘we’ve won it all’ in the stands. Well, that song can have even greater meaning by taking next season’s Conference League seriously and trying to win it.