Enzo Maresca reacts to Chelsea’s ‘special’ win over Ajax | OneFootball

Maresca hails ‘special win’ as Chelsea’s young stars shine in Champions League

Chelsea’s youthful dominance on a European stage

It was a night that reminded Stamford Bridge of its enduring capacity for spectacle. Enzo Maresca described it as a “special night” and few in the stands would disagree, as Chelsea dismantled Ajax 5-1 in a performance that balanced youthful exuberance with tactical precision. It was a Champions League fixture that underlined the club’s new direction under Maresca, one built on trust, development, and a willingness to give youth a stage of rare magnitude.

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Kenneth Taylor’s early dismissal for Ajax gave Chelsea an opening, but what followed was not simply a side taking advantage of a numerical edge. It was a confident display of control and attacking verve. The home crowd saw teenagers Marc Guiu, Estevao, and Tyrique George all find the net, making Chelsea the first club in Champions League history to have three different teenagers score in the same match.

Maresca’s pride in young promise

“Very, very proud. It’s a special night for the club, for the young players,” Maresca said after the match, his satisfaction clear. “I think (Marc) Guiu already scored for Chelsea 5-6 goals last year in the Conference. Ty already scored also in the Premier League, Estevao exactly the same. I think overall it was a great night, especially for these young players and for the club.”

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His words reflected more than post-match elation; they carried a sense of validation. Ten changes were made from the weekend victory over Nottingham Forest, yet the structure and identity of Maresca’s Chelsea remained intact. This was rotation with conviction, not compromise. Every young player appeared prepared, each performance carrying a sense of belonging.

Estevao’s humility and brilliance

Estevao, the Brazilian teenager signed from Palmeiras, was the heartbeat of Chelsea’s attacking rhythm. His composed penalty in first-half stoppage time made him the youngest player in the club’s history to score in the Champions League. Beyond the numbers, though, there was something poetic about the way he played, moving with freedom and fearlessness that seemed to animate those around him.

“With young players most of the time you are a little bit worried because they play one game, two games, (they have a) good game, they score, and they think that they are already top players,” Maresca said. “The good thing about Estevao is that we don’t need to be worried about that because he’s very humble, he’s very polite, he wants to work hard. He has a fantastic family, they are very close to him, and for me personally, it’s fantastic because he’s a special player, but at the same time, you don’t have to be worried.”

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“Now he’s going to play one game, two games, score, and he’s already thinking that he knows how good he is, but the good thing is that he’s a very simple guy, simple boy. I feel very lucky to be his manager because it’s exciting, you can enjoy. We said many times I think the fans at the end they pay the tickets to see players like Cole (Palmer), like Estevao, this kind of player. So it’s nice that we can have players like Estevao.”

His comments revealed both affection and ambition. For Maresca, Estevao represents a philosophy as much as a footballer: humility fused with talent, youth allied to purpose.

Walsh debut highlights Chelsea’s commitment to youth

There was another layer of symbolism when 17-year-old Reggie Walsh entered the fray. The midfielder, handed his senior debut by Maresca last season in the Conference League, was now tasting the Champions League. It was an introduction that seemed to embody Chelsea’s rejuvenated spirit under their Italian head coach.

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“It’s the strategy of the club (to promote young players). We have so many young players. I think already last season we were the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, so this season we continue in the same way,” Maresca explained. “We changed tonight from (Nottingham) Forest game ten players. It’s not easy from Premier League to Champions League to change so many players, but we need to do that; otherwise, they are going to struggle because many games we need to protect some of the players, and tonight I think was also good because we could rotate players, especially with the red card.”

The ease with which Walsh integrated reflected the broader cohesion within Maresca’s project. Chelsea, so often accused of instability in recent years, now appear to be building something durable. The blend of youth and experience, guided by clear tactical principles, has brought balance and optimism to a side that once seemed in transition without destination.

As Stamford Bridge emptied, there was a feeling of something stirring beneath the surface. Maresca’s “special win” was not merely about three points or a new Champions League record. It was about identity, vision, and belief. Chelsea’s young faces may have lit up the night, but it was their manager’s clarity of purpose that illuminated the path ahead.