Enzo Maresca has suggested that Chelsea can now focus on making a decision over the future of Jadon Sancho after beating Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final on Wednesday night.
The Blues were forced to come from behind with less than half-an-hour remaining in Wroclaw to become the first club in history to win all five UEFA men's competitions, having secured success in the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and now the Conference League.
Sancho came off the substitutes' bench to score a superb goal seven minutes from time, Chelsea's third on the night in between strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo.
The 25-year-old has made a number of key contributions at Chelsea during his loan spell from Manchester United, recording five goals and 10 assists in total across 41 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.
Sancho is now facing an uncertain future; Chelsea are currently obliged to sign the winger for £25m later this summer, but they also possess the option to cancel their agreement with Man United by paying them £5m in compensation.
Maresca stated before the final that he was unsure over Sancho's future at Stamford Bridge and he remained tight-lipped when providing a fresh update in the aftermath of Wednesday's victory.
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Will Sancho remain at Chelsea next season?
Speaking to TNT Sports about Sancho after the match, Maresca said: "From now on is when we sit down with the club and decide about next year.
"Jadon Sancho, if we finished fourth, it's because of Jadon, if we won tonight it's because of Jadon. It's also because of Robert Sanchez - during the season, everyone is up and down a little bit, that's part of the game."
Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole would like to see Sancho complete a permanent move to the Blues, adding: "I think Jadon is a really great player and I think he's done well.
"He's been rotated in and out a bit but I want to see Jadon playing. You want a player like that in your squad. It will come down to a financial decision I imagine but I really like him."
Asked whether the England international had done enough to earn a permanent move to Chelsea, Cole said: "Yes I do.
"This is a kid who went to Dortmund and was a superstar as a kid. It wasn't working at Man United but he's done well, he's got his career back on track at Chelsea. I think there's more to come from him as well."
Man United head coach Ruben Amorim recently revealed that the Red Devils 'know what they want to do' during the summer transfer window following a disastrous 2024-25 season, but whether they are open to reintegrating Sancho into the first-team fold remains to be seen.
Oliver Thomas
