Real Betis 1-4 Chelsea: Pat Nevin on Reece James changing the Conference League final
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin says Wednesday's Conference League final turned on the introduction of captain Reece James at half-time.
James started from the bench but replaced Malo Gusto in the inverted right-back position at the break with the Blues 1-0 down and struggling.
"The entire game changed in the second half when James came on - Chelsea looked much more balanced," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"It wasn't working for Malo Gusto because he isn't a central midfield player. A couple of minutes into the second half, James played a ball in from the right hand side, he just got into that area and knew how to play it. Nobody quite got on the end of it but the entire game completely changed in that moment.
"James looked better in that position and then the game started to open up. They have more power and strength than Real Betis and were always going to be able to keep on going and Chelsea are generally a better team in the second half."
James' England tea-mate Cole Palmer was named player of the match after providing assists for Enzo Fernandez's equaliser and the goal by Nicolas Jackson that turned the match around.
"There were lots of interesting one v ones - my favourite was Isco versus Palmer," Nevin added.
"Isco won the first half but Palmer hammered the second half. Those two beautiful, absolutely phenomenal assists he got were fantastic.
"Chelsea deserved it by a country mile in the end - but they had to work for it."
