“I was shocked” – Enzo Maresca singles out three Chelsea players for praised after what they did in 3-1 win over Astana
After Chelsea’s thrilling 3-1 victory over Astana in Kazakhstan on Thursday, which guaranteed them a spot in the Conference League’s next round, manager Enzo Maresca has praised his young team.
Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga’s goals, along with an own goal by Aleksandr Marochkin, helped the Blues keep their undefeated record in the competition. Before halftime, Astana was able to equalize, but Chelsea’s superiority was clear the entire time.
With several first-team regulars rested for the trip, Maresca entrusted a fringe side to get the job done. Young talents Samuel Rak-Sakyi (19), Josh Acheampong (18), and Tyrique George (18) were handed starts, with some completing the full 90 minutes. The substitutes’ bench was entirely composed of academy players, including Harvey Vale, Kiano Dyer, and Shumaira Mheuka, who all saw action in the second half.
After the match, Maresca singled out three players for particular praise while expressing his overall satisfaction with the team’s performance.
“I was impressed by all of them,” the Italian remarked. “The ones that started, Tyrique, Sam, and Josh, they all have done very good. Very happy for them. Also, the ones that came on in the second half. So I’m pleased for them.”
The win highlights Chelsea’s depth and the potential of their next generation, with Maresca clearly delighted by their contributions.