Levi Colwill strike secures Champions League return for Chelsea as Forest fall just short

The result confirmed a fourth-place finish for Enzo Maresca's side in the Premier League, guaranteeing a place among Europe's elite next season and providing a timely confidence boost ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis in Poland.

Colwill's 50th-minute tap-in settled a cagey encounter that offered more tension than spectacle, but it was enough to get Chelsea over the line in a season where qualification for the Champions League had been viewed as a minimum expectation.

Speaking after the game, Maresca acknowledged that reaching Europe's top competition was crucial not only for the club's stature but also for their summer plans: "Our recruitment targets have always been shaped by which competition we'd be in next season. Now we can focus with clarity."

The match marked the culmination of a campaign that saw Chelsea's youthful squad - the youngest in Premier League history with an average age of just over 24 - begin to show signs of cohesion after a turbulent transition period.

The victory also underlined the progress made under Maresca, whose tactical clarity and man-management have been key in stabilising a team that faltered in recent seasons despite heavy investment. While Chelsea celebrated their return to the Champions League, there was frustration but not failure for Nottingham Forest.

Despite the defeat, Nuno Espi­rito Santo's side finished seventh, securing a place in next season's UEFA Conference League - a remarkable achievement just three years after returning to the Premier League following a 23-year absence.

Forest, who had spent much of the season in the top four, ultimately saw their Champions League push unravel in the final stretch. Just two wins in their last eight matches proved costly, and their home form deserted them at the crucial moment, ending the season winless in their final four at the City Ground.

Even so, the mood around the club remains one of pride. "It's disappointing not to have held on, but this is a team that continues to grow," Nuno said. "We now have a European campaign to look forward to - and that's a big step.

"Forest last played in European competition in 1996, and while the Conference League lacks the prestige of its bigger siblings, it offers a realistic shot at silverware and further continental relevance."

Chelsea's bench erupted at the final whistle, celebrating a return to a stage they believe is their rightful home. For a club that has endured inconsistency since their 2021 Champions League triumph, this finish - and the possibility of European silverware midweek - marks what many at Stamford Bridge hope is the beginning of a more stable and successful era.

After years of upheaval, Chelsea's long-term project under new ownership may finally be finding its footing - and its future, once uncertain, now looks considerably brighter.

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