Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Chelsea made the UEFA Conference League semi-final look more like a preseason training session with a commanding 4-1 demolition of Djurgården in Stockholm. The Swedish side, backed by a passionate home crowd, were full of spirit — but Chelsea showed up with something more potent: a Champions League-grade squad moonlighting in Europe’s third-tier competition.
The first half set the tone, as Enzo Fernández — clearly not content with just being a World Cup winner — pulled the strings with the calm of a conductor and the precision of a Swiss watch. His two assists for Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke weren’t just helpful — they were borderline surgical. By halftime, the writing was on the (very expensive) Stamford Bridge wall.
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Plastic Pitch, Real Problems
The match was played on what one Chelsea staffer was overheard calling a “s***ty fake pitch” — and to be fair, it looked like a glorified carpet at times. But if the Blues were bothered, they didn’t show it. Sancho’s opener in the 12th minute, albeit deflected, silenced the crowd and turned the plastic turf into his personal dance floor.
Noni Madueke followed up with a stylish finish just before halftime, shrugging off defenders like he was stepping around Ikea furniture. The slick surface seemed to benefit Chelsea’s technical superiority, while Djurgården’s defenders looked like they were on rollerblades — blindfolded.
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Jackson Jumps In, Scores Twice for Good Measure
Manager Enzo Maresca used the second half to empty his luxury bench, with Nicolas Jackson stepping onto the pitch like a man on a mission. Within minutes, Jackson bagged a brace — one from a botched clearance, the other a dazzling solo effort that reminded everyone why he’s a £30-million headache for opposition defenders.
His first was opportunistic, pouncing on a defensive mess like a raccoon on late-night leftovers. But the second? That was class: a fluid turn, a juke, and a curled shot into the bottom corner. Cue the traveling Chelsea fans singing songs of future glory (and discounted flights to Wroclaw).
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Djurgården Get Their Moment (Barely)
To their credit, Djurgården never gave up. And in the 83rd minute, 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta gave home fans something to cheer with a beautiful looping header that caught Chelsea’s second-choice keeper a bit flat-footed. It was a poetic moment — the teenage forward standing tall against European giants, albeit with the scoreline already heavily lopsided.
Mulugeta’s goal was a rare bright spot, and it will live on in Djurgården folklore, even if the match itself likely won’t. One could imagine the club’s media team already planning a heartwarming Instagram post with a sepia filter and Coldplay soundtrack.
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Reggie Walsh, A Star is Born?
The match also featured a moment for Chelsea’s future — literally. Sixteen-year-old academy prospect Reggie Walsh made his senior debut, coming on late in the game and nearly scoring with his very first touch. The crowd “oohed,” the Chelsea bench stood, and Maresca cracked a rare smile. If nerves were present, Walsh certainly didn’t show it — he looked as calm as Enzo Fernández at a five-yard pass convention.
While the debut may have gone under the radar amid Jackson’s brace and Enzo’s masterclass, Walsh’s appearance marked a subtle statement: Chelsea’s talent pool is so deep, even their kids are knocking on the door of Europe’s big nights.
Bigger Questions for UEFA, But Chelsea March On
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: The result raises eyebrows beyond the pitch. With Chelsea’s financial firepower and squad depth on full display, some critics are asking whether the Conference League is becoming lopsided. While UEFA likely appreciates the increased visibility, the sight of Premier League stars gliding past semi-pro defenders may not be the fairytale story the tournament envisioned.
Still, for Chelsea, it’s business as usual — and the job is only half done. A second leg at Stamford Bridge awaits, though barring a footballing apocalypse, the Blues are almost certainly headed to the final in Wroclaw. There, they’ll meet either Real Betis or Fiorentina in what should finally resemble a more balanced showdown.
Chelsea Crush Djurgården: Big Blues, Bigger Statement
Chelsea’s 4-1 away win over Djurgården was as convincing as it was clinical. From seasoned stars to rising youngsters, Maresca’s men flexed their depth and intent. The only real question left is whether they’ll finish the job in style — and how soon UEFA will need to rethink the tournament format to keep things competitive.
