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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hailed Tyrique George, Sam Rak-Sakyi, and Josh Acheampong following the 3-1 win over Astana in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, December 12. Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga got on the scoresheet while Aleksandr Marochkin scored an own goal to help the Blues retain their 100 percent record in the European tournament.
Maresca made 10 changes to his starting lineup from the Tottenham Hotspur game, as has been the norm for the Conference League. George and Rak-Sakyi started in a new-look midfield alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
George lasted the entire game, while Rak-Sakyi was hauled off four minutes before the end. Meanwhile, Acheampong was given a rare outing in defense and played the full 90 minutes for the London giants.
Speaking after the game, Maresca was full of praise for the trio.
"All of them, all of them. The ones that started - Tyrique (George), Sam (Rak-Sakyi) and Josh (Acheampong) - they all have done very, very good, so I’m very happy for them. Also the ones in the second half, so I am pleased for them," said Maresca.
Chelsea are leading the Conference League table after five games with 15 points. The Blues have scored 21 goals and conceded just four in the tournament.
Will Josh Acheampong sign a new deal with Chelsea?
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Josh Acheampong
Acheampong's contract with Chelsea expires in 2026 and he was recently involved in a contract standoff with the club. It was rumored that the Blues had frozen him out of the first-team squad and the Under-21 team for the past three months because he refused to sign an extension.
The London giants have high hopes for the Englishman, who broke into the first team this season. He came off the bench in Chelsea's 5-0 win over Barrow in the Carabao Cup in September.
Maresca revealed before the game that the 18-year-old is close to signing a new contract with the Blues.
"For Josh, it is quite clear: The club love Josh, I love Josh, and we are trying to find an agreement with the player. We are close, we are almost there, but we will see," said Maresca.
The Blues have invested heavily in talented young footballers lately. Acheampong's inclusion in the starting XI on Thursday implies his rising importance to Chelsea's plans.
Chelsea will next face Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday, December 15.
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Edited by Samya Majumdar