Chelsea could face the team managed by their former analyst in the Europa Conference League play-off round
Chelsea could be heading for an unlikely reunion in their Europa Conference League play-off tie.
He Blues They will face the loser of the Europa League tie between Braga and Servette for a place in the third European competition.
And if the Londoners do face Portuguese club Braga, it would mark a long-awaited reunion for coach Daniel Sousa, who served as the club's match analyst between 2011 and 2012.
Sousa was a long-time colleague of the former Chelsea manager. André Villas-Boasfirst acting as his analyst at Académica de Coimbra in Portugal's top flight in 2009, before following him to Porto the following year.
So when Villas-Boas took charge at Stamford Bridge in June 2011, Sousa joined him, taking on the same role.
But his stay in the capital would be short-lived, as the Portuguese coach was sacked in March 2012 following a series of disappointing results.
Despite this, Sousa remained a vital member of his technical team over the following years, continuing as his analyst on Tottenham and Zenit St. Petersburgbefore serving as its deputy manager at the port of Shanghai and at French giant Marseille.
Since then, however, Sousa has forged his own coaching career, being appointed manager of Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente in 2022, spending a season at the club before taking charge of Arouca.
After guiding Arouca to a seventh-place finish in the top flight in the 2023/24 season, Sousa was announced as Braga manager in May ahead of next season.
However, Sousa will be keen to avoid a reunion with his former team here, as Braga's win over Servette in their European League Qualification would allow them to advance to the play-off round of the competition.
Meanwhile, defeat would lead them to the Conference League play-offs, where they would face Chelsea to fight for a place in the tournament.
The Blues may also feel disadvantaged by only competing for a place in the competition, as a sixth-place finish in the Premier League is usually enough to secure Europa League qualification.
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Unfortunately for Enzo MarescaHowever, the group of Manchester United secured the final spot in the competition with his FA Cup victory – despite being eighth in the table.
However, qualification for the Conference League could prove useful for new manager Maresca as he would have the opportunity to give playing time to fringe players in Chelsea's famously large squad.
The Blues will have to fight to overcome any of their potential opponents and advance to the group stage, as both Braga and Servette are strong opponents.
Braga finished runners-up in the Europa League in 2011 and reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League in 2022.
Meanwhile, 17-time Swiss champions Servette have already started their league campaign and currently sit second in the table after winning three of their first four matches.
Chelsea head into the play-off tie after a miserable pre-season campaign in which they have recorded just one win, beating Club América 3-0.
They were defeated 4-2 by Manchester City in their last friendly, having previously Lost 4-1 to Celticas well as Draw 2-2 with League One side Wrexham.
