Frank Christian
Chelsea’s inaugural season under head coach Enzo Maresca has been inconsistent, but they concluded on a high note, achieving commendable success.
The team recovered from a poor stretch in the Premier League, clinching four victories in their last five matches, including a noteworthy win over newly crowned champions Liverpool, securing a top-four berth for next season’s Champions League.
Additionally, they triumphed in the UEFA Conference League, defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the final held in Wrocław. Maresca noted prior to the match that winning the tournament would signal “Chelsea’s return” as a prominent force in European football.
However, winning the Conference League not only garners a trophy but also secures a spot in the upcoming UEFA Europa League. So, what does this mean for Chelsea now that they’ve clinched the title while also qualifying through their league placement?
The Sporting News outlines the regulations and implications for the Blues below.
What happens after Chelsea’s Conference League victory?
Chelsea has already secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League due to their fourth-place finish in the Premier League standings.
This victory in the Conference League gives Chelsea options for European play in 2025/26.
They can either participate in the Europa League or compete in the Champions League. Confused by these options? Let us clarify.
What rewards come with winning the Conference League?
Alongside the trophy and €7 million (£5.9m / $8m) in prize money, the Conference League winners gain a qualifying position for the next season’s Europa League, with a direct entry into the league phase, eliminating the need to navigate through qualifying rounds.
If that same team also qualifies for the Champions League or Europa League via other routes, such as winning a domestic cup that provides a European spot or through league performance, the situation becomes more intricate.
Should the Conference League victors earn a Europa League spot simultaneously, it results in an available position in the Europa League. This vacancy is then filled by the team that holds the highest ranking coefficient among the clubs that qualify for the main draw or playoffs of the Europa League, as stipulated by UEFA regulations.
The club that occupies this spot must either be the domestic cup winner or the top-ranked team from its nation that has not already secured direct entry to the league phase of competition.
If Conference League winners also secure Champions League qualification through league finish, they must choose between participating in either the forthcoming Champions League or Europa League. This now presents a decision for Chelsea at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.
It’s quite improbable that a team would opt for the Europa League over the prestige and financial benefits of the Champions League. Should Chelsea decide on the Champions League, another vacancy in the Europa League will need to be filled, and the previous rule about selecting the highest-ranked club will apply again, according to UEFA guidelines.
Have Chelsea secured their Champions League spot?
This season, it’s clear that the top five teams in the Premier League have qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Chelsea navigated a challenging and closely contested race for the top five, finishing fourth with a 1-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League campaign.
They faced arguably the toughest last three matches of any top-five contender—battling fourth-place Newcastle United next, hosting Manchester United on May 16, and concluding the season away at sixth-place Nottingham Forest.
Yet, they managed to prevail and earned their place in the Champions League, making it highly likely they will compete.
