
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has lauded his youthful squad following their impressive 3-1 victory over Astana in Kazakhstan on Thursday, securing their progression to the next round of the Conference League.
The Blues maintained their perfect record in the competition, courtesy of goals from Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga, with an own goal from Aleksandr Marochkin adding to the tally. Astana managed to pull one back before halftime, but Chelsea’s dominance was evident throughout.
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.