Chelsea advanced to the league phase of the Europa Conference League despite suffering a defeat in Switzerland against Servette in the second leg of their qualifying play-off.
Having led 2-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea extended their advantage early in the match with a penalty from Christopher Nkunku in the 14th minute after Mykhailo Mudryk was fouled by Keigo Tsunemoto.
However, Servette responded when Jeremy Guillemenot scored with their first real opportunity, shooting across Filip Jorgensen after latching onto Dereck Kutesa’s pass. The Swiss side then took the lead for the night with Enzo Crivelli heading in from Miroslav Stevanovic’s cross, putting the pressure on Chelsea.
Despite the scare, Chelsea held on for a 3-2 aggregate victory, confirming their place in the next round.
Maresca Unfazed by Complacency Concerns
Before the match, manager Enzo Maresca stated he was not worried about complacency due to the two-goal cushion. Just three minutes in, Enzo Fernandez nearly doubled Chelsea’s lead with an impressive 25-yard strike saved by Servette goalkeeper Joel Mall.
Nkunku’s penalty appeared to put the tie beyond the Swiss side’s reach, but Guillemenot quickly equalized with his goal in the 32nd minute. Kutesa had a chance to extend the score for Servette but was denied by Jorgensen at a tight angle.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, called up to the England squad earlier, continued to impress. He had an early chance in Geneva but was thwarted by strong defending.
As the game reached a tense conclusion, Crivelli’s header prompted frantic moments, including a disallowed goal for Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and a shot from Cole Palmer that hit the crossbar. Servette nearly equalized on aggregate in stoppage time, but Timothe Cognat sent his shot wide.
Importance of Qualification
Chelsea, the 2021 Champions League winners, are competing in Europe’s third-tier tournament for the first time following a disappointing sixth-place finish last season, which led to the dismissal of former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Since then, the club has signed 10 new players, and with the transfer window closing soon, Maresca faces the challenge of managing an already large squad. England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell were notably absent from the squad in Switzerland as speculation mounts about their futures.
This progression in the Conference League will provide opportunities for fringe players, as Chelsea aims to utilize their upcoming matches to give valuable playing time.
The draw for the league phase of the Conference League will be held on Friday at 13:30 BST in Monaco. The competition will feature 36 teams competing in a league format, with the top eight advancing to the knockout phase while those finishing between ninth and 24th will compete for a playoff spot.
Credit: BBC Sport
