Chelsea's European Grand Slam: No one before and one after that?

The reporter reported coldly In three years, Boehly's €1.37 billion investment has paid off: "American Chelsea" has won its first trophy since returning to the Champions League. Palmer's crucial second-half brace secured Chelsea's 4-1 win over Real Betis to win the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League. While this is UEFA's new third level of European competition, it is significant for Chelsea: the Blues are the first team to win all major European competitions in the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Europa League.

Although Betis took the lead through Ezazurri in the opening nine minutes, Palmer scored twice in the 65th and 70th minutes, and goals from Enzo and Jackson turned the game around. Manchester United then dropped Jadon Sancho and the Blues' second billionaire Caicedo sealed the win. The 45-year-old Italian boss won major trophies in his first season in charge of Chelsea, and Maresca, who was Pellegrini's favourite during his time in Malaga in 2011/12, is naturally better than blue.

Maresca unexpectedly brought Reece James and Colwill off the bench, with Gusto and Badiashlai starting, narrowly missing the title. It was the former's poor passing that gave Isco the chance to deliver the lethal pass, and Ezzurri took the lead. However, Maresca was brought on after the break and the Chelsea captain led the team in a circle to encourage each other before the start of the second half. Chelsea's 28,100-kilometre journey in the Europa League this season for the trophy included the furthest European trip across Europe to Kazakhstani giants Astana last December.

Chelsea's American owners, Todd Boehly and Ekbarry, were also on the pitch to celebrate after the game. Chelsea have had two fewer days off than Betis and are at full full play in the Premier League finale that decided Champions League qualification last Sunday. A return to the Champions League meant more for the Blues, so much so that Maresca complained after the game that the over-celebration of the players was the main reason why the team was too slow to get into the game in the first half.

Palmer, who has just one goal and four assists in 21 official games since the new year, and is even rumoured to be leaving in the summer, proves that he is still the best value for money for the Blues during Boehly's time. The UEFA Europa League final assisted twice to get him to a perfect ending in a season that was far inferior to last year's. In fact, Palmer has topped the team for goals scored (15), involved (26), created best chances (28), made key passes (99) and made (236) in the box this season, proving that he is still an absolute key player for the Blues.

Of course, the achievement of a European Grand Slam is even more significant for Chelsea, as it is a difficult achievement to achieve. The Blues won two each in the Champions League, Europa League, European Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup, completing the final piece of the puzzle for the European Grand Slam. The Blues ended a run of nine consecutive defeats against Spanish sides in European finals, having last beaten a Spanish side in the European final against Liverpool in the 2001 UEFA Cup. At the same time, after losing to Bayern Munich on penalties in Valencia in the 2001 Champions League final, Betis also brought Spain's 23-game winning streak to European finals. With Chelsea's UEFA Cup triumph, the London side have won three trophies this season, but Arsenal failed to reach the Champions League final and failed to take that record one step further.

Chelsea have a close relationship with Italian coaches who have won all European Grand Slams: Vialli (1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup), Roberto Di Matteo (2012 Champions League), Maurizio Sarri (Europa League 2019) and Maresca (UEFA Europa League 2025). Chelsea's blue glory is closely linked to Italy's equally blue glory. Moreover, the Blues have won seven of their eight European finals, only losing to Manchester United on penalties in the 2008 Champions League final.

Sancho won the UEFA Cup with Chelsea, but Antony, the opponent in the final, missed the Europa League and UEFA Cup this season due to the defeat of Manchester United and Betis. After being banished to Betis by Manchester United in the winter window, Antony handed over 25 games with 9 goals and 5 assists, and returned to the Brazilian national team after one and a half years. But in Betis' most important final, against the Premier League team, the Brazilian winger who played the whole game was lost again. After the game, Sancho also went out of his way to comfort his former Manchester United team-mate Antony, who was in tears on the field.

Although they have their own fates, at least the two have the same plan for the future, which is to never return to Manchester United. Jadon Sancho wants Chelsea to buy out his contract, Antony wants to stay in La Liga and Atletico are considering meeting United's offer of up to €50 million. Anthony lost the trophy, but at least won the future.