Chelsea failed to continue their strong start to the season after drawing 2-2 with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Enzo Maresca‘s side were unable to win the match and claim all three points despite goals from Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea were without Liam Delap following his hamstring injury, giving Tyrique George an opportunity to gain some minutes in the second half
George was sad about his failed move to Fulham on deadline day, but Maresca is trying to help him get over it.
Tyrique George of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham
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Enzo Maresca wanted to give Tyrique George confidence
Instead of including Marc Guiu in the matchday squad following his recall from Sunderland, Maresca opted for George.
After the game, the Chelsea manager explained why, telling reporters that he wanted to hand the latter some confidence, while he was also impressed with his performance against Fulham just before the international break.
“Marc is a striker and we know him from last year but in this moment we needed to leave one of them out of the squad,” Maresca said. “I also wanted to give Ty (George) a little bit of confidence. He did quite well versus Fulham and was okay today.”
Enzo Maresca watches from the sideline during Brentford vs Chelsea
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
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While he was left out on this occasion, Maresca is still a fan of Guiu, whom Chelsea signed from Barcelona last summer.
It is thought that Maresca likes Guiu’s intensity among other things. Last season, the Spaniard made a total of 16 appearances.
He scored six goals, with all of them coming in Chelsea’s successful Conference League campaign.
Marc Guiu playing for Chelsea against Esperance de Tunis at the Club World Cup.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Why AS Roma backed out of Tyrique George transfer
Fulham were not the only club who were interested in Guiu’s teammate George over the summer.
AS Roma were also keen on the 19-year-old. However, according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini had doubts about George.
George and Chelsea face Gasperini’s former side Atalanta in the Champions League in December. To win that game, though, they are going to have to defend much better than they did against Brentford.
Robert Sanchez and the rest of the Blues’ backline were not solid in this particular west London derby. Prior to Chelsea’s visit to the Gtech Community Stadium, club legend Roberto Di Matteo discussed Sanchez.
Di Matteo launched a passionate defence of Sanchez, claiming that the constant criticism that he receives is unfair.