Maresca Hails Chelsea Academy Duo After First-leg Success

Chelsea leader Enzo Maresca praised nan club's academy graduates aft Tyrique George scored his first elder extremity and chap teen Josh Acheampong besides impressed successful their 3-0 Conference League quarter-final first-leg triumph complete Legia Warsaw.

Winger George, who has ne'er started a Premier League lucifer but regularly featured successful Europe, showed speedy reactions to manus nan Blues nan breakthrough successful Poland, tapping location erstwhile Reece James' long-range onslaught was pushed retired by goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz.

That came minutes aft nan 19-year-old had moved infield to nan number 10 domiciled pursuing nan withdrawal astatine half-time of Cole Palmer, whose replacement Noni Madueke netted twice.

"I'm really happy to score, really delighted," said England Under-19 world George. "I've played a fewer games now but it's bully to get my first goal."

Chelsea person been tipped to triumph nan Europa Conference League correct from nan commencement of nan run and nan 2nd limb adjacent Thursday astatine Stamford Bridge looks to beryllium a specified formality, pinch either Swedish broadside Djurgardens aliases Rapid Vienna of Austria to travel successful nan semi-finals.

George has been pinch Chelsea's academy since nan property of 8 and Maresca said: "I'm happy first of each for nan Chelsea academy because he is 1 of our boys.

"He was rather bully successful nan first half, taking responsibility. He was astir apt amended successful nan middle."

But Maresca reserved his top praise for 18-year-old right-back Acheampong.

"The 1 I fell successful emotion pinch coming is Josh Acheampong," added nan Italian. "He tin beryllium a awesome subordinate for this club. A bully subordinate tin play successful different positions and he showed that.

"The champion point for Josh is that he's unfastened - he wants to learn. Full-back? No problem, what do I person to do?"

Chelsea will suffice for adjacent season's Europa League if they triumph nan Conference League, though they could still declare a Champions League spot if they decorativeness successful nan apical 5 of nan Premier League.

They are presently fourth, but only 2 points supra seventh-placed Aston Villa pinch 7 convention games left.

Chelsea are adjacent successful action connected Sunday erstwhile they entertain Ipswich Town, though nan third-bottom broadside did negociate to hit Maresca's men 2-0 astatine Portman Road successful December.

The Blues leader expects Palmer to beryllium available, contempt nan England forward's early withdrawal.

"We planned for him and Tosin [Adarabioyo] to travel disconnected connected 45 minutes," said Maresca. "Everything is fine."

Former Chelsea attacker Joe Cole, who helped nan nine triumph 3 Premier League titles, has been impressed pinch George.

"What a infinitesimal for nan young man," he told TNT Sports. "It's beautiful to spot erstwhile an academy subordinate scores their first goal.

"In what has been an indifferent play for nan club, he has been a existent agleam spark. He has played successful these games and taken his opportunities.

"He is direct, affects nan games, he is simply a dribbler and each full-back's nightmare arsenic he goes astatine players and makes things happen.

"The fans person been calling for him to commencement Premier League games and they really for illustration him."