The Blues have qualified for next season's Champions League and the coach is now looking to complete the campaign on a high note by securing European silverware in Wednesday's (28.05.25) showpiece against Real Betis in the Polish city of Wroclaw.

Maresca told reporters: "The mood is a good one. It's a consequence from the last game but the final is completely different. It's one game and anything can happen.

"I said a few times, for me, it was already a good season for different reasons and it can become a very good season if we finish top four or top five and win the final. The first target is there and hopefully we can achieve the second one.

"The most complicated thing about the Conference League has been to convince the players that for us it is the best competition in the world. The reason why is because it's the competition we are in."

Some pundits have argued that Chelsea are too good to be in Europe's third-tier competition but Maresca thinks that success in the tournament can instill a "winning mentality" in the current group of players.

The Italian coach said: "We need to respect every team in Europe and every team we face. I am not focused on winning this competition because my name [goes down in history] but I will be happy for the club and for the fans.

"The Conference League is important and the reason why is it is the competition we are in. We are in the Conference [League], so for us it is the most important competition and we are going to try and win that.

"We are looking to build a winning mentality and the way to do that is to win games. We have won many games this season but it is not enough.

"The message in the last 48 hours: we've done something important but if we want to confirm we are becoming an important club, we need to show desire to win the game and the title."