Why Chelsea aren't the smart pick for the Conference League

Ladbrokes looks at why, despite being the bookies' favourites, Chelsea might not actually be the smart pick to win the Conference League this season.

As noted, Chelsea are still the firm favourites to win the competition outright at odds of 2/5. Their opponents in the final, Real Betis are priced at 7/4.

However, Enzo Maresca's side are having a bit of a wobble, just as their main contenders for European silverware hit a period of fine form.

So, Ladbrokes takes a deeper look at the reasons why Chelsea might not be the smart pick to win UEFA Conference League, and who could be a better bet instead.

There are some familiar faces among Chelsea's opponents, with Real Betis containing ex-Premier League players enjoying fine seasons abroad.

Antony was considered one of the all-time flops in England after moving to Manchester United for £80m in 2022. However, since joining Betis on loan in January he been a player reborn. He's scored 4 goals in the knockout rounds of the Conference League.

The Spanish side lost just two of their first ten games after the Brazilian winger joined, a run that included an impressive win against Real Madrid and a point away at Barcelona.

Betis are currently 6th in La Liga, in stark contrast to Antony's parent club under Ruben Amorim, who sit in a lowly 16th.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso also has 8 league goals for Betis this season and former West Ham man Pablo Fornals is a key player for them too.

Betis have made a good habit of turning up in big games this season domestically, along with their European conquests.

As well as their aforementioned results against Real and Barca, Betis won their local derby against fierce rivals Sevilla in March.

Another familiar face for Chelsea will be Isco, who is having a renaissance this year in Andalusia. The ex-Real Madrid playmaker has plenty of big game pedigree, with 5 Champions League trophies to his name.

Chelsea's recent struggles away from home are a cause for particular concern. They've won just one of their last ten away games in the league, losing six of them.

Three of those defeats - at Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City - were against rivals in the race for Champions League qualification, and Chelsea were meek in losses to Arsenal, Brighton and Ipswich. The Blues have slipped to 5th in the Premier League.

Chelsea are losing momentum at the wrong point of the season and pressure is growing on Enzo Maresca. There are signs of discontent from the stands with his style of play, which boiled over in their 2-2 draw against Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.

The UEFA Conference League still represents a great opportunity for Chelsea to win silverware and guarantee Europa League football next season.

They have found success in the competition, while also giving opportunities to youngsters like Marc Guiu. The 19-year-old Spanish striker has 6 goals and is one of the top scorers in the competition - one behind Betis striker Cedric Bakambu.

Chelsea have not faced many challenges in their European campaign so far, but found it tougher against Copenhagen and Legia Warsaw in the knockout rounds.

They still have by far the strongest squad in the competition, with regulars including Cole Palmer starting to feature more in the latter stages.

A trophy is there for the taking, but their opponents now represent a huge step up in quality.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.