Pat Nevin gives honest verdict on Chelsea in the Conference League this season

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Chelsea certainly have a big pressure in the Conference League this season to breeze their way to the final and to lift the trophy next May.

While the Blues may be strong favourites to win the Conference League, it’s unlikely to be that straightforward in the European competition.

So far, Chelsea sit top of the group phase after back-to-back wins over Panathinaikos and Gent. Their next match is Thursday night at home to Armenian club Noah.

Chris Sutton has labelled it “embarrassing” if Chelsea don’t win the Conference League because they’re by far the strongest side in it. It’s worth noting that Enzo Maresca is making wholesale changes to his team in the cup games and using the depth of his squad, though.

• READ MORE: Cole Palmer shares conversation he had with Enzo Maresca about not playing in Conference League

Pat Nevin feels indifferent about Chelsea in the Conference League

Pat Nevin has delivered an honest assessment of Chelsea’s participation in this year’s Conference League by claiming it should be low down on their list of priorities.

Nevin told Squawka: “Are they bothered, really? I know from the club you’ll never hear anything other than ‘Yes, we want to win it. We’ve never won this trophy before’, all the positives. Will there be wailing and gnashing of teeth if they went out? Absolutely not. It’s not the core of what you need to do as a group.

“What it is, I think, is very handy. Really handy. There are a number of players who would be very, very put out just now if they weren’t getting any games at all. Whereas you’ve got a number of players now that are playing quite regularly, European football, sometimes League Cup but no longer that because you’re out of that now after getting beat by Newcastle. So it’s been a bit of a lifesaver…

“It’s actually kind of falling nicely into the manager’s lap that competition. Should you try and win it? Yeah, try and win it. Should you go and put your top team out at any point? I don’t think you can because you’ve not named them all anyway, but is it the end of the world if you don’t? Not at all, I’m afraid. No, it’s not up there. And neither should it be, because Chelsea Football Club and its recent history and the money it’s spent, you should be aiming much, much higher than that.”

Axel Disasi insists Chelsea are desperate to win the Conference League trophy. In fairness, it’s a great chance for players like him in the squad to still play regular football away from the Premier League.

There should be tougher ties ahead for the Blues in Europe if they run into the likes of Fiorentina or Real Betis later in the competition, but even so, the club’s B-team may have the quality to go all the way.

Chelsea stars impressing in the Conference League

There’s a number of Chelsea individuals making the most of their European minutes recently, including Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku.

Here is a look at the Blues goalscorers in the Conference League group stages so far:

Mudryk could force his way into Chelsea’s best XI with another big performance in the Conference League, so it’s a competition that certainly has its value.

Of course, the Blues would much prefer to be competing in the Champions League. Even the Europa League is a step up. However, Chelsea are in the Conference Legue on merit from last season, so they need to treat it with respect and go for gold.