'A load of babbling drivel' - Simon Jordan slams Enzo Maresca over Conference League claims as Chelsea prepare for Real Betis test

Simon Jordan has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, dismissing his comments about the significance of winning the Europa Conference League. Maresca had suggested that winning the trophy would be a "statement" that Chelsea are "back," a claim Jordan has ridiculed. The pundit believes that with Chelsea's resources, winning the competition is the bare minimum, and doesn't represent a significant achievement.

Chelsea, despite their massive spending under the Todd Boehly ownership, have struggled to find consistency and success in recent seasons. After a revolving door of managers, Maresca is the latest tasked with turning the tide; they are currently fifth, in the final Champions League qualification spot, but sit level on points with sixth-placed Aston Villa, so must also finish strongly domestically.

On talkSPORT, Jordan reacted to Maresca's comments, saying: "I'm going to give him some latitude in that English isn't his first language because other than that, I think it's a load of old, babbling drivel. Anyone with half a brain can understand that if you're in the Conference League, you can't win the Champions League. You'd have to be born under a rock.

"What he's saying is if you're in a competition, you do the best you can in it. If you're Chelsea, with all the resources that you've got, going against the teams they're playing against, and you don't win it, then you should be slightly embarrassed in the same way that Tottenham should have been embarrassed a few years ago."

Asked if Chelsea will be "back" if they win it, Jordan added: "No. Of course not. The clue is in the title, the word 'Conference'. When you think of 'Conference', what do you think of? I think of non-league football. I don't think of a high-faluting style of football. It's the third tier competition in European football, that sucks as far down the pyramid as it possibly can to get some teams in that have got some validity."

Chelsea play Manchester United and Nottingham Forest before taking on Betis in their European final. Three wins are essential for Maresca.