Chelsea face unprecedented decision no other English club has encountered after winning the Conference League.

After securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and lifting the Conference League trophy with a 4-1 win over Real Betis, Chelsea now face a rare but straightforward decision.

Things initially looked bleak for Enzo Maresca’s youthful squad when Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli opened the scoring just nine minutes into the final in Wroclaw. Chelsea struggled early on but turned the tide in the second half, dominating play and scoring through Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo to seal a deserved European triumph.

With the win, Chelsea have added another European title to their collection. But it also presents them with a unique scenario.

Typically, Conference League winners earn a spot in the Europa League, but Chelsea’s top-four finish already guarantees them a place in next season’s Champions League. As a result, they must now choose which competition to enter.

While it’s a given they’ll opt for the Champions League, ESPN notes an unusual UEFA clause designed for clubs from lower-ranked nations. Journalist Dale Johnson explains that if a team enters Champions League qualifying via domestic placement, they’re not guaranteed a Europa League berth should they fall short in the qualifiers. This means clubs can instead accept the automatic Europa League spot earned from winning the Conference League—if they feel the Champions League route is too risky.

However, Chelsea’s qualification is direct, not through the qualifiers, so the decision is easier for them.

Last week, Maresca secured Champions League football in his debut season at Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 win over top-four rivals Nottingham Forest.

After the Conference League final, Maresca praised his team and fired back at critics.

“I never doubted the players. The doubt came from outside—those who claimed we were too young, not good enough, that we couldn’t handle pressure,” he said. “They waited for Villa to slip up so we could qualify.”

Addressing his doubters directly, Maresca added bluntly: “In English, how do you say it? Eff off. These players deserve every bit of credit. Their effort has been outstanding.”