Excellently timed, or a pure coincidence?
Either way, Chelsea supporters loved what the club shared on social platform X just as the final whistle had sounded in Paris between Arsenal and PSG.
At 10:30pm on Wednesday, Chelsea shared a picture of a game between the west London outfit and Tottenham under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
But it was the caption that had fans believing there may have been an ulterior motive behind the post.
“Back home tomorrow,” the post read.
“Looking to reach a European final for the eighth time in our history.”
Chelsea have one foot in the Europa Conference League final thanks to a 4-1 win away to Swedish side Djurgarden in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
It will be their second European final in the last five seasons as they beat Manchester City to win the Champions League in the 2020/21 campaign.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, they will have to wait another season to contest a European final as they were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.
The French side beat the Gunners 2-1 on Wednesday to claim a 3-1 win on aggregate.
It meant Arsenal have reached just two European finals from the 2005/06 season onwards but failed to win either of them, with the most recent effort being the 2018/19 Europa League final which they lost 4-1 to Chelsea.
In that same time, Chelsea have made it to five finals and won four.
Given the timing of the post and the stark contrast in European final berths, some supporters couldn’t help but think Chelsea had cheeky intentions.
One fan wrote: “Definitely trolling.”
Another said: “The timing of this post is diabolical.”
A third added: “Nice timing.”
Aside from reaching yet another final, a result in Chelsea’s favour on Thursday will give Enzo Maresca’s side a shot at cementing themselves in the history books.
Progression to the Europa Conference League final would mean Chelsea will have a golden opportunity to become the first team to win all three European competitions.
GettyMaresca stands a strong chance of winning a trophy in his first season as Chelsea boss[/caption]
Although it’s not exactly the most prestigious trophy to win, Maresca recognises silverware is still silverware at the end of the day.
And should Chelsea become Europa Conference League champions, Maresca believed it wouldn’t be unfair to say the Blues ‘are back’.
“That would be very good for the club,” Maresca said.
“Most importantly, it would be a way to start and build a winning mentality with the squad.
“We want this club winning trophies, and it’s nice to win a trophy because you learn how to win.
“Chelsea are a big club with important trophies in the past, but we need to learn how to win with this squad.
“I try to convince the players that day by day you have to build the winning mentality, win the small-sided games, because winning shapes you.
“The competition we are in is the Conference League, where we started in the play-offs, and we have to win this competition.
“Winning a trophy this season is a statement that you can say Chelsea is back, because we have won a trophy.”
