Maresca responds to Isco's cheeky comments: "Money can't buy you titles"

Mind games are totally legitimate ahead of those big games, and Isco Alarcon of Real Betis was surely aware of it before he fired shots at Chelsea before their UEFA Conference League showdown in Wroclaw (Wednesday, 10 pm).

Speaking to the media before the match against the Blues, the Spanish midfielder said that the difference between Betis and Chelsea is that the English club "has much more money".

Isco fires shots at Chelsea ahead of Conference League final: "What they have and we don't? Money"

Responding to those claims only a tad bit later, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca didn't hold back.

"With money, you don't win games or titles.

"I shared two years of my career with Isco (both Malaga players) and I know him well. He is a great player. It's going to be a great match," said Maresca, who also praised his Betis counterpart Manuel Pellegrini, whom he had as coach at Malaga and of whom he was assistant at West Ham.

Mou issues a special warning to Maresca and Blues about Betis

"I have learned a lot from Manuel (Pellegrini) and the most important thing was that he told me that you have to treat the players as if they were your children. We both know each other very well," said the Italian, who insisted that Chelsea must "prove that you can win a title" and that to do so "you have to work every day".

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE - FINAL

Wednesday

22.00: (4.50) Betis (3.60) Chelsea (1.90)

***odds are subject to change***