Chelsea play the Swiss club in Europe’s third tier

Chelsea may have been two-time UEFA Champions League winners and also the Europa League, but this season, the Blues will need a playoff to stand a chance of playing in the group stage of the 2024/2025 European season or even in Europe at all.

The Blues find themselves in unfamiliar terrain just three years after winning their second UCL title by beating Manchester City. They will face Swiss League side Servette at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the encounter on Thursday, August 22, before the second leg next week.

While they may be a big name and some bookmakers’ backing as favorites, the Blues have a lot going that may give the visitors the confidence to try and go for a giant-killing target. Chelsea started the 2024/2025 Premier League season with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday in Enzo Maresca’s first competitive game in charge.

Interestingly, Thursday’s game will be his first game in European football. Last season, he helped Leicester City back into Premier League football but was immediately picked up by the Blues to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

He’s under pressure to manage a bloated Chelsea squad with over 40 players, but he insists on keeping in touch and training with just about 23 players. Some notable players have been victims with Raheem Sterling being a major standout.

However, despite all these, Maresca isn’t focusing on just participating in the game or conference league but hoping to win the competition itself.

“We are for sure going to try to win. Hopefully we can win and start tomorrow winning a game in the official competition. I am just focused on the game, not thinking what happens if we don’t win and these kinds of things.” Maresca said.

Servette lost in the Europa League to Braga in the playoffs before dropping to the Conference League while they defeated Bernex 7-1 in the Swiss Cup at the weekend.