Chelsea’s European Final Preparations Hampered by Fixture Scheduling Disparity
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the fixture scheduling leading up to the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis. The crux of his discontent stems from the fact that Betis has been granted a 48-hour advantage in preparation time, with their final La Liga match moved to Friday while Chelsea must wait until Sunday to complete their Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest. Maresca believes this disparity creates an unfair competitive imbalance, especially considering the significance of Chelsea’s final league game in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The situation is further complicated by the differing stakes involved for the two finalists in their respective domestic matches. While Betis has already secured a sixth-place finish in La Liga and will be playing a relatively meaningless match against Valencia, Chelsea’s clash with Forest is crucial. The Blues need a victory to guarantee a top-five finish and secure Champions League football for next season. Currently perched precariously above Forest and Aston Villa, Chelsea cannot afford a slip-up, making the extra two days of rest and preparation for Betis all the more frustrating for Maresca.
Maresca’s frustration is palpable, questioning the fairness of allowing one team such a significant time advantage before a major European final. He argues that either Chelsea should have been permitted to play their final league match on Friday, aligning with Betis’s schedule, or Betis should have been required to play on Sunday alongside Chelsea. This scheduling asymmetry, he asserts, creates an uneven playing field and undermines the principles of fair competition.
While Maresca directs his criticism towards the scheduling discrepancy, UEFA’s jurisdiction over domestic league fixtures is limited. The Premier League adheres to a long-standing tradition of concluding its season with all final-day matches kicking off simultaneously on a Sunday afternoon. In contrast, La Liga lacks such a rigid structure, allowing for greater flexibility in scheduling. In this particular instance, Betis’s match is the only one in the final round of La Liga fixtures to be brought forward to Friday.
Maresca’s frustration extends beyond the immediate implications for the upcoming final. He maintains that such scheduling disparities should be addressed systematically, advocating for clearer rules at the UEFA level to ensure a more equitable playing field for teams competing in European competitions. He emphasizes that a 48-hour difference in preparation time is simply not acceptable for a final of this magnitude. He believes UEFA needs to implement stricter regulations to prevent such discrepancies from arising in the future.
Adding an intriguing layer to the final is the personal connection between Maresca and Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini. Maresca considers Pellegrini his "professional dad," having played under him at Malaga and later serving as his assistant at West Ham. He has often sought Pellegrini’s counsel on important career decisions, including his appointment as Chelsea manager. This close relationship adds a unique dynamic to the final, where mutual respect and tactical acumen will be on full display. Adding to the pre-final intrigue, Maresca confirmed that goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen will start instead of Robert Sanchez, rewarding Jorgensen’s consistent performances throughout the European campaign.
