Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he is delighted to face his “professional father” after the real Betis managed by Manuel Pellegrini qualified for the conference league final.
Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored while Chelsea won 1-0 in the night against Djurgarden and 5-1 on the total, while the Spanish club Betis needed overtime to beat the Fiorentina 4-3 on the aggregates on both legs.
The results led to Maresca against a manager in which he both played and worked alongside having been a member of the Pellegrini team in Malaga before later becoming his assistant in West Ham.
Maresca admitted that he was late for the press conference because he looked at Betis to win in more time and said the result: “I am happy to face Betis, especially because of Manuel Pellegrini. He is like my professional father. So we will be very happy.
“I was four years old, two as a player and two I was his coach, deputy coach. So I know exactly how he thinks of the players, but the most important thing is that he is honest, he is a good person, he always tries to be honest with the player.
“And I try, personally, I try to learn a lot on his way.”
MARESCA also appreciated the most successful part of her playing career with the ferocious rivals of Betis Seville, winning two Trophies of the Europa League and a Super Cup, then expects to face taunts.
“I played four years for Seville, it’s a big derby against Betis,” he said. “We also won the derby 1-0, and I have marked a goal. I know they don’t like me, they don’t like me.
“I met my wife in Seville, she is from Seville. My first son born in Seville. I played for Seville, but without a doubt, I want to win the final.”
Chelsea will want to finish work in Wroclaw, Poland, May 28, three days after the end of the Premier League season.
Maresca continued: “For me personally, it is very important, especially because we can give this club the chance and these fans to be the first club in Europe to win all the competitions (after winning the Champions League and the Europa League).
“The conference league is a starting point to build a winning mentality, then try to earn more things and more titles.”
