Enzo Maresca reflects on his relationship with Manuel Pellegrini ahead of the Conference League final, calling him a “professional dad.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed excitement over facing his “football dad,” Manuel Pellegrini, in the UEFA Conference League final. Pellegrini’s Real Betis secured their place in the final with a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win over Fiorentina, while Chelsea triumphed 5-1 against Djurgarden.

Maresca, who played under Pellegrini at Malaga and later served as his assistant at West Ham, spoke with fondness about their relationship, calling him a pivotal figure in his managerial career. “I had him for four years—two as a player, two as an assistant coach,” Maresca said. “He’s like my professional dad. I know exactly how he thinks about players, and he is a good person, always honest.”

Maresca’s connection with Pellegrini runs deep. As a former player at Betis’s rivals Sevilla, where he won two Europa League titles and a Super Cup, Maresca is well aware of the intense rivalry. Reflecting on the upcoming final, Maresca joked about the crowd’s likely taunts, given his history in Seville. “I know they don’t love me,” he laughed, acknowledging the fierce competition between Sevilla and Betis.

Despite the personal connections, Maresca is focused on securing victory in the final, set for 28 May in Wroclaw, Poland, just days after Chelsea’s Premier League campaign concludes. “It’s very important, especially because we can give the fans and the club the chance to be the first club in Europe to win all the major competitions,” Maresca said.

For Maresca, the Conference League represents a starting point for building a winning mentality at Chelsea, and he is determined to claim the title as part of his broader vision for the club’s future.