One Real Betis player could have been lining up for Chelsea in the Conference League final.
Betis take on Chelsea at the Wroclaw Stadium on Wednesday night, hoping to win their first European trophy.
As for the Blues, victory in Poland would see them get their hands on a ninth European honour, which would be an incredible achievement.
Joe Cole has backed Chelsea to beat Betis, but his former club will have to stop an old target of theirs if that is to happen.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Chelsea wanted to sign Antony
Since joining Betis from Manchester United in January, Antony has been on absolute fire for the Spanish outfit. In the Conference League, the winger has scored four goals and provided three assists in eight outings.
He signed for United in 2022 in a massive £86m deal but was actually on Chelsea’s radar well before his move to Old Trafford.
Following Antony’s transfer from Ajax to United, ex-Chelsea scout Piet de Visser revealed to Voetbal Nieuws that he wanted to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge following a settling in period in Europe.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
“Together with Hans van der Zee [former Ajax head scout] we saw him for the first time at Brazil’s youth ranks and we were both charmed by him,” De Visser said. “That was a few years ago, just before he went to Ajax.
“I thought he had to make an intermediate step and then Hans suggested Ajax. And then we would take him right from Ajax. We couldn’t get him, I would have wanted him. He’s a boy with poison in his backside. He sometimes crosses the line, but he comes from the favela, doesn’t he?”
Had De Visser got his wish, then, Antony may have been getting ready to take on Betis on Wednesday night. Instead, the 25-year-old will be facing Chelsea and aiming to deny them of more European glory.
Chelsea are not without their own danger man, though. Enzo Maresca will be hoping that Cole Palmer or another one of his talented attackers can be the match-winner.
Palmer was recently praised by teammate Moises Caicedo, who described him as a “spectacular” player.
Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/Dax Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/Dax Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Antony vs Marc Cucurella duel could decide Conference League final
Ultimately, if Chelsea want to win the Conference League trophy, then they are going to have to stop Antony. In an interview with El Larguero in March, Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini described him as “very special”.
Left-back Marc Cucurella will be given that task of trying to stop Antony, but the Brazil international will also need to be wary of the threat that the Spaniard can bring.
Cucurella has been sensational going forward for Chelsea this season, scoring seven goals in all competitions. It means that Antony is going to have to track back and help his full-back. All in all, this could be the duel that decides the tie.