Chelsea won the Champions League as recently as 2021 and have a great chance of more continental success in Europe’s third-tier tournament.

They are clear favourites to win the Conference League and are well placed to move into the quarter-finals after gaining a 2-1 win away at Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

After a dull first half in Denmark, with Enzo Maresca’s side failing to have a shot on target, they instantly improved after the break, taking the lead within a minute of the restart through Reece James’ low strike.

A second goal came in the 65th minute when Tyrique George’s cut-back was side-footed into the net by substitute Enzo Fernandez, although Copenhagen kept the contest alive as Gabriel Pereira’s powerful header gave them a glimmer of hope going into next week’s second leg in London.

Maresca has been able to give his squad members game time in this tournament and named teenage forward Shumaira Mheuka in the starting 11 as the England Under-19 international, at 17 years 137 days, became Chelsea’s youngest player to start a match in major European competition.

However, he was ineffective and part of a Maresca triple substitution at half-time, before his side instantly scored in the second half.

It has been a tough 2025 with fan unrest growing at the team’s inconsistent performances, although the side now only need a draw at home to move into the quarter-finals of a European competition.