Maresca saw his young players dominate on Wednesday nightplaceholder image
Maresca saw his young players dominate on Wednesday night | AFP via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca was delighted after Chelsea’s comfortable win over Ajax on Wednesday night.
Enzo Maresca was delighted with the performance of his young Chelsea side after they thrashed Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Estevao Willian and Tyrique George were all on the scoresheet as the Blues made history by becoming the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in the same game.
It was a youthful lineup for Chelsea, and more youth talent came off the bench, with Ajax having a man sent off as early as the 17th minute, giving the Blues a little more space to take chances, especially after Guiu made the advantage count by scoring the opener only one minute later.
“I'm very proud. It's a special night for the club, for the young players,” Maresca said after the game.
“I think Guiu already scored for Chelsea five or six goals last year in the Conference League, Ty already scored also in the Premier League and Estevao is exactly the same. I think overall it was a great night, especially for these young players and for the club.
“It's the strategy of the club. We have so many young players. I think already last season we were the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, so this season we continue in the same way.
“We changed tonight from the Forest game ten players. It's not easy from the Premier League to the Champions League to change so many players, but we need to do that, otherwise they are going to struggle because of many games. We need to protect some of the players. Tonight I think was also good because we could rotate players, especially with the red card.”
Estevao praise
Maresca was particularly pleased with Estevao Willian after the win, with the Brazilian starlet building on his recent winner against Liverpool with another goal. Maresca has been patient with the talented youngster, and he has likened his development to that of Cole Palmer.
"Exciting to see him,” the Chelsea boss told TNT Sports. “The odd thing about Estevao is with young players you're worried they have one good game and think they're top. Estevao is polite, he's humble, he wants to learn. His family make a big job there. We're happy not only way with way he performs but he's a nice boy, a good boy.
"I think in the Premier League he needs a little more time. It's very similar to Cole Palmer. I had him same age with Manchester City's under-23s. Cole played wide and now he's inside. Now Estevao plays wide but in the future I think he's more of an inside player.
"We could have scored more goals - but we tried to manage the game. On Saturday we have Sunderland here. They're physically strong. We're happy. Every game is different."
Chelsea have now won two of their three Champions League games, and their next European clash will take them to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag.
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