Enzo Maresca fumes over Chelsea’s fixture schedule ahead of Conference League final – with Blues in action just THREE days before Real Betis clash

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has had a pop at the scheduling before next week’s Conference League final, with Real Betis set to benefit from an extra 48 hours’ rest in the build-up.

Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, have been allowed to play their last La Liga match this Friday night. 

Chelsea, however, will face Nottingham Forest away on Sunday afternoon in a seismic Premier League finale which will determine who secures Champions League qualification.

Maresca believes UEFA should consider enforcing a rule which makes it so that both finalists play at the same time beforehand, rather than giving one team an obvious advantage.

‘I am not happy, 100 per cent,’ Maresca said. ‘You cannot allow a team 48 hours more when you play a European final. I don’t know if it’s from La Liga, from the Premier League or from UEFA.

‘If I ask you if it is normal to play a final where one team has 48 hours more than the other, it is not normal, it is not correct.’

The Blues will get just three days rest before taking part in the match in Wroclaw, Poland

Whereas Real Betis will get five days rest – given their final LaLiga game is on the Friday

Asked if UEFA need to introduce stricter guidelines for these finals, Maresca said: ‘Absolutely, yes.’

Maresca is incredibly close to Pellegrini, and the pair even spoke on Monday. ‘I spoke with Manuel yesterday,’ Chelsea’s manager said. 

‘It’s special. I spent four years with Manuel, he is a reference for me because of his career and history. As a human being, he is a top person. I define him like a professional dad because when I need to make big decisions, we are in contact.’

That included Maresca seeking Pellegrini’s advice before he took on the Chelsea job.