Chelsea young stars break Champions League record as Maresca’s bold ‘domination’ prophecy gains traction
Chelsea defeated Ajax at Stamford Bridge, making them the first team in Champions League history to have three youngsters on the scoresheet.
Enzo Maresca is performing admirably. Marc Guiu, 19, broke the scoreless draw barely over a minute after Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Facundo Buonanotte, momentarily becoming the Blues’ youngest Champions League goal scorer.
After Wout Weghorst and Enzo Fernandez had already scored from the penalty spot and Moises Caicedo had left Remko Pasveer flat-footed in goal with his deflected shot, Estevao broke that record in first-half stoppage time.
Trending
In my own opinion I think Estaveo is the best young premier league singing of this summer, and most Chelsea fans also confirmed it.
Enzo maresca is also proud of him and he believes Chelsea future rely on him because he always deliver and still has time and potential to improve.
According to a fans on x: “Estaveo is nothing but a blessing to Chelsea”
After entering the game during the half, George became the third youngster to score within three minutes.
After the game, the academy graduate poetically summed up the situation as “all young, having fun.”
After their victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Maresca made 10 changes, including “Uncle” Tosin Adarabioyo, who declared before the game that it was “an honour” to be among the senior players, showcasing the strength of his gifted young team.
He is, astonishingly, the oldest player to ever play for Maresca at the age of 28, and when queried about his improbable status Being one of the team’s senior players is an honour; 28 is by no means elderly, Tosin told TNT Sports.
Speaking candidly about his nickname at Chelsea, he added: “I believe it was Noni [Madueke] last season. He wrote “Uncle Tose” as a comment on one of my Instagram posts, and the fans took to it right away, and it just stuck.”
“I get called by the nickname every day, even by some of the employees.” Alvaraz, my fitness coach, Marcos, calls me that every day.
As Maresca emphasised his faith in and dependence on youth, Reggie Walsh came off the bench for the final 30 minutes, becoming the youngest player to play for Chelsea in the Champions League and the second youngest Englishman behind Jack Wilshere for Arsenal.
And without Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, and other important players coming and going from the team due to injuries and suspensions, which have been a glaring sign of the squad’s inexperience, the Italian is doing a fantastic job of leading these young players through a difficult time.
The way Maresca is now leveraging the depth of his team, giving all of these young talents enough top-level games in two tournaments, gives a significant support to his “domination” prediction, even though it’s difficult to imagine Chelsea winning one of the two major trophies this season.
And the likelihood that it will come under his direction is growing.
In December 2024, Maresca stated: “I told the owners and sporting directors when I first met them that, given their age and the calibre of their team, I think Chelsea will be one of the teams or the team that dominates English football in the next five to ten years.”
And honestly, with the way maresca is rebuilding Chelsea and base on their performance, they have start becoming a serious threat to all other team.
On my first encounter with the club, I mentioned this to them. I still believe that English football can be dominated over the next five or ten years, regardless of the manager, due to the team’s age and composition.
