Why Cole Palmer needed help as Arsenal mocked - Behind the scenes of Chelsea Conference League win

From Geneva to Athens, Heidenheim, Almaty, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Stockholm and Wroclaw. It has been some European journey for Chelsea. More than 17,000 miles travelled for the Blues, but it was all worth it at about 11pm on Wednesday night in Wroclaw.

Walking around the city centre in Wroclaw on Wednesday afternoon, it was very much a European final feeling. and Real Betis supporters sat alongside one another, each having their own banners to showcase their adoration of their beloved clubs, beers in hand, the sun beaming down, people of all ages playing football in the dedicated fan park, music blaring. However, at least on Wednesday, it was a sea of blue - much to the annoyance of one brave teenager who made the costly decision of wearing an Arsenal shirt. "Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that," was aimed towards the boy, although it was unclear whether he knew he was the target of some light-hearted mockery.

It all felt very jovial between the Chelsea and Betis fans, even in the night when quite a few beers had been consumed by both sets of supporters. At one point, , working for TNT Sports to cover the final this week, walked into a bar near the busy square. Cole, a Chelsea icon, was never going to be able to go unspotted given how many Blues supporters were around.

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"He's here, he's there, he's every (insert swear word) where, Joey Cole, Joey Cole," was loudly sang by those Chelsea fans around the bar, with Cole seemingly enjoying the attention, stopping and taking photos with more than 20 people. Steve Sidwell was also there, but the former Chelsea midfielder did not quite receive the love and attention than his mate Cole did. Coming up against a club legend in Cole, though, seemed unfair on Sidwell.

Earlier in the afternoon, we were able to watch the 23-man Chelsea squad - plus Aaron Anselmino and , who were both ineligible but did train - be put through their paces at the Wroclaw Stadium. It was very much a light session, with the only real ball work coming in a rondo. There were three different groups out on the pitch and cast his eye over each one at some point.

The Chelsea players then stopped and went over to sign some autographs for the children watching on the side. , though, took the time to stay out and practice his long-range shooting. The only player still out there, Palmer was pinging the ball into the top corner with virtually every shot he took, albeit in an empty goal. Palmer, though, did go over to the children when he was done to make their day with a few photos.

Meanwhile, Paul Winstanley took the time to walk around the pitch, looking as if he was texting on his phone. The Chelsea co-sporting director will be spending plenty of time on his phone in the coming months as the club look to give Maresca all the required tools in order to compete in every cup competition next season.

Overall, a really nice Tuesday in Wroclaw it seemed, but Wednesday - the day of the final - took a turn for the worse. There was plenty of crowd trouble between Chelsea and Betis supporters towards the city centre in Wroclaw. Riot police had to get involved and use a water cannon as both sets of fans were throwing missiles towards each other - including glasses and glass bottles.

However, in most instances, it was friendly between the two sets of fans. On the way to the stadium, around three hours before the scheduled kick-off time, there were trams and buses filled with fans of both sides, standing within inches of each other and it all looked very light-hearted - exactly the way these occasions should be.

There was a sense of pre-match excitement in the air. Even with four hours until the game started, supporters were making their way to the stadium; whether that be on a bus, a tram, in a cab or even - and I kid you not - a group of Betis fans using a horse and carriage on an extremely busy main road. It was their first ever major European final, so why not mark the occasion in style?

Inside the stadium, which is a beautifully crafted piece of architecture, it was a sea of green to my left hours before kick-off. The Betis supporters made their way into the ground much earlier than the Chelsea lot, who were perhaps taking in as much of the local beer as they could to help the nerves.

And being inside a bar was probably a wise idea because an hour and 45 minutes before kick-off, the rain started pouring down in Wroclaw. Even though there was shelter, the wind ensured my laptop did get a bit wet. Fortunately it did not last too long, but the wind definitely picked up. That did not dampen the fans and their mood, though, with both sets of supporters creating plenty of noise pre-match, during the game and afterwards.

Betis supporters outnumbered their counterparts, with some in green and white mixed in with the Chelsea fans. They were making quite some noise, even with more than 90 minutes until kick-off at the Wroclaw Stadium. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian was among a group of Betis players that came out onto the pitch to show their appreciation to their supporters, while recording videos of the sea of green on their phones.

Kick-off was soon upon us and Betis started the better. The much better, in fact. Maresca cut an extremely frustrated figure in the Chelsea dugout when gifted Betis possession that resulted in the opening goal of the final. That only fuelled the Betis supporters, whose volume increased as the first-half went on. They were 45 minutes away from history.

seemed like the obvious answer at the break. Everyone in the stadium would have been eagerly waiting to see those warming up on the pitch at half-time, but James was the only one from the Chelsea squad not on the grass. Instead, he was in the changing room receiving instructions from Maresca. The captain, disappointed of course that he was not included in the starting XI, knew there was a trophy to be won.

"I promise you, I would start always with Reece," said Maresca when asked by TNT Sports pundit Cole why James did not start. "But I’m trying to protect him. He played more games this season than the last two, three years. He’s happy, he knows that. He’s a top player for us. It’s like Cole [Palmer], the problem is we need to manage him. When we changed him, he said to me, ‘boss don’t worry, we’re going to win the game’."

James' impact was immediate. Chelsea grew in confidence. The England international, inverting into midfield, seized the initiative and was desperate to get on the ball as much as possible. A dangerous cross, that somehow managed to evade everyone, was a warning to Betis. It is no coincidence the Blues found a route back into the game 20 minutes into the second period.

Palmer, who has received so much criticism for his performances in the second part of the season, decided to put on a show for us. His inch-perfect cross for saw Chelsea level, moments before he produced another stunning assist for . All of a sudden, the tide had turned. It was the Blues making the noise - on and off the pitch.

As soon as Fernandez had levelled the match, there was a sense of inevitably that Chelsea would complete the European set. Betis' downfall was rapid and sudden, while the Blues were growing with confidence and their attacking threat increased enormously. So much so, there was time for two more goals in Wroclaw.

, whose future at the club remains uncertain, definitely gave Chelsea supporters a reason to remember him should he depart. As was the case with Jackson's goal, those on the substitutes' bench in blue flooded onto the pitch to celebrate with their teammates. Those who questioned what the Conference League meant to this young group had a clear answer with the celebrations.

Similar happened when Moises Caicedo struck from the edge of the box in stoppage time. Fittingly, Chelsea's Player of the Season, wrapped up his campaign in style. As the full-time whistle blew in Wroclaw, .

Among those on the pitch celebrating were the most important men at the club - in terms of what happens behind the scenes, anyway. , , Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Jose E Feliciano, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell all posed for a photo with the Conference League trophy. The first piece of silverware since the Boehly and takeover three years ago.

The first of many, they hope, and that is the general feeling surrounding Chelsea. Fourth place and a trophy in Maresca's debut season at Stamford Bridge is quite some achievement.

Us journalists were fortunate enough to speak to the man of the moment Palmer, as well as his teammate post-match. The two entered the press conference room laughing away before they eventually sat down and Palmer tried to gauge which microphone he would be using. Palmer asked the Chelsea press officer on two separate occasions if he was using the right one and even after that guidance, Tosin moved the microphone closer to his mouth.

Famous for his short and blunt answers to reporters, Palmer did not disappoint on that front. At one point, Palmer was asked to talk us through his two assists. He said: "I was sick of getting the ball and going backwards and sideways, I thought when I next get the ball I'm going to go." Tosin, though, was not happy with that answer. "A bit more detail please, Cole," the defender said to his friend. Palmer obliged: "The first one, there was a bit of space and I seen Enzo running at it so put it over the top. It is a good feeling for us and the fans, we just picked up the intensity."

Palmer then took it upon himself to ask the journalists a question. "Can I ask you a question?" the Chelsea No.20 asked. "Who gives out the Player of the Tournament? Tosin wants it," he continued, to a room full of laughs. He left shortly after that, leaving his Player of the Match trophy on the desk in front of him, only for Tosin to pick it up and say: "Don't worry, Cole, I've got it."

Off they went to continue their celebrations, with the afterparty at the team hotel running into the early hours of the morning in Wroclaw. Chelsea supporters flooded the streets in the city centre and you could hear chants in every direction. It was party time.

It certainly was at one small karaoke bar where ABBA's 'Voulez-Vous' was playing, with one Chelsea supporter singing, "Tyrique George, aha, running down the wing, aha, hear the Chelsea sing, aha, we're all going to Wroclaw" and it was soon around 50 Blues fans following suit.

There will be some sore heads today, there is no doubt about that, but Chelsea have earned that. Chelsea came, the fans saw and Palmer conquered.