Jose Mourinho believes that Chelsea would rather be competing for the Champions League ahead of Wednesday night's Conference League final, but has told his former club it would still be an 'amazing' achievement to win that silverware.
Enzo Maresca's side are in Poland for the Conference League final on Wednesday night, facing Spanish opposition Real Betis.
It marks the opportunity for the Blues to end their trophy drought dating back to February 2022, when the FIFA Club World Cup was won.
In the period since that success, the club's ownership has changed hands, several managers have taken their place in the dugout and the entire face of the squad has changed with over £1bn spent.
Now approaching the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Maresca appears to have brought stability. Champions League qualification for next season has been secured via the Premier League and Chelsea are returning to the place they want to be.
"I think Chelsea is a club that wants to win Champions Leagues, not Conference Leagues, but it is a trophy.
"To be the only club in the world to get all three (major UEFA club trophies) is amazing," Mourinho encouraged his former club, speaking at the League Managers Association awards dinner.
The 62-year-old Portuguese knows what success means at Stamford Bridge, having won three league titles as part of eight overall trophies across two spells in charge.
As an individual he is the only manager to have won the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League - the achievement the Blues are able to match as a club - and was also asked what this means.
"No, in this moment there is only one coach, one player. Me and Emerson [Palmieri]," he responded.
"What it means for Emerson, only him can say, what it means for me, means my big tattoo on my arm because I'm the only one to do it!"
The now-Fenerbahce coach also had a warning for his former club about the team they are to face in the final.
He added: "But, attention with Betis. I think Betis can compete.
"They have a team, they have an experienced coach, they have a great mentality too, so I think it is going to be a good final."
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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