Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised the club’s academy graduates after Tyrique George scored his first senior goal and fellow teenager Josh Acheampong also impressed in their 3-0 Conference League quarter-final first-leg win over Legia Warsaw.
Winger George, who has never started a Premier League match but regularly featured in Europe, showed quick reactions to hand the Blues the breakthrough in Poland, tapping home when Reece James’ long-range strike was pushed out by goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz.
That came minutes after the 19-year-old had moved infield to the number 10 role following the withdrawal at half-time of Cole Palmer, whose replacement Noni Madueke netted twice.
“I’m really happy to score, really delighted,” said England Under-19 international George. “I’ve played a few games now but it’s good to get my first goal.”
Chelsea have been tipped to win the Europa Conference League right from the start of the campaign and the second leg next Thursday at Stamford Bridge looks to be a mere formality, with either Swedish side Djurgardens or Rapid Vienna of Austria to follow in the semi-finals.
George has been with Chelsea’s academy since the age of eight and Maresca said: “I’m happy first of all for the Chelsea academy because he is one of our boys.
“He was quite good in the first half, taking responsibility. He was probably better in the middle.”
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exeter.one newsbite last confirmed 1 week ago by Michael Emons
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