Enzo Maresca is craving another opportunity to stick two fingers up at Chelsea’s critics this season by following up Champions League qualification with the Conference League trophy to cap a perfect week.
It was following Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Nottingham Forest that Maresca bullishly told his doubters to ‘eff off’ after being annoyed by their barbs, and on Wednesday night he will face Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis in the final.
Among those in attendance in Wroclaw, Poland, is Chelsea’s suspended winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian was spotted in a city-centre steakhouse by supporters on Tuesday after travelling separately to the team.
Bizarrely, Maresca was not aware that he was here, as the Blues boss was caught by surprise when asked about his presence at his pre-match press conference.
Maresca is focused only on winning his first trophy with Chelsea, saying: ‘In our bad moment, our bad run during the season, in February and March when we dropped points, many people were talking, and from our point of view, they were not talking in the right way.
‘Yes, we are young, yes, we are the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, but at the same time, they are men. I also use those critics to say, “Guys, today is a chance that we can say that we are not young, we are mature enough, we can compete.’
Mykhailo Mudryk (left) has flown into Poland to cheer on his Chelsea team-mates
Mudryk has not played for the west London club in six months after failing a drugs test
Blues boss Enzo Maresca has revealed he did not even know that Mudryk was in the country
Meanwhile, Pellegrini says Antony told him he wanted ‘revenge’ after Manchester United ousted their £86million man by sending him on loan to Betis.
While United have struggled under Ruben Amorim, Antony has found form under Pellegrini, who said: ‘He told me he was not playing and was not happy. He wanted “revenge” and to show what he can do. It’s difficult with a €100m price tag. Antony is a very good player.’