The signings will keep on coming under this voracious Chelsea ownership but it is unlikely they will ever make a smarter one than Cole Palmer. This was his stage. Palmer stood up when Chelsea needed him most. Two gorgeous assists in the space of five minutes – one for Enzo Fernández, one for Nicolas Jackson – turned the Uefa Conference League final around and brought the west Londoners their first trophy since being bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago.
The first of many? The predictability of the outcome did not make the feeling any less sweet at full-time. Enzo Maresca delighted in denying his mentor Manuel Pellegrini a first European trophy at the age of 71. Real Betis dreamt of a romantic finish after going 1-0 up but the financial reality took hold long before Moisés Caicedo made it 4-1 to Chelsea in added time.
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