Chelsea: Josh Acheampong rises to occasion again as bold Enzo Maresca call pays off | OneFootball

Teenage talent fully deserves starting berth ahead of more established options after another polished performance and first Blues goal

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Josh Acheampong's performance against Liverpool put him top of the list of candidates to start for Chelsea at centre-back at the City Ground on Saturday, but it was still a big call from Enzo Maresca to select him.

Serving his one-game touchline ban against Nottingham Forest, Maresca will have been suitably impressed by the performance of Acheampong as he watched on from the stands.

That set Chelsea on their way to a 3-0 victory that proved the final straw for Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who moved to sack head coach Ange Postecoglou less than 20 minutes after the final whistle following only 39 days in charge.

There was plenty of interest in Acheampong over the summer, including from Borussia Dortmund, as teams across Europe predicted that Chelsea might allow him out on loan or even to leave permanently with plenty more renowned centre-backs in their ranks.

But the decision to keep him is being vindicated more with each passing performance, and it says something that Maresca rewarded him with another start at Forest when other, more experienced defenders were fit and available.

It says something that Maresca started Acheampong when more experienced defenders were available

It says something more that Acheampong rewarded him with such a polished performance.

“It was a really good feeling, quite surreal,” the England Under-21 international said after his first senior goal. “I don’t remember it too much. We’ve just talked [in the dressing room] about building momentum.”

That goes for Acheampong on an individual level as much as for Chelsea as a collective.

The travelling fans celebrated the goal with real vim, sharing a special moment with a player who broke through along with fellow academy graduate Tyrique George during the Blues’ Conference League-winning campaign.

The development in Acheampong’s game last season and in the months since were on show at the City Ground; the teenager made six recoveries, four interceptions, three clearances and won seven of his nine duels in the 81 minutes he was on the field, before being replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo.

One moment in particular encapsulated his confident showing. As Trevoh Chalobah rolled the ball to his right, into Acheampong’s path, the young centre-back took a positive touch forward with the instep of his right foot.

Off he went on a marauding run forward, cantering past four Forest players. He had sensed Chelsea’s struggles in progressing the ball up the pitch, so took matters into his own hands.

“I have said many times that I really like Josh,” Maresca said in his press conference afterwards. “We showed him confidence last season [by playing him], and he's doing well.

Back of the net: Acheampong’s header in front of the travelling fans set Chelsea on their way to a comfortable win at the City Ground

Getty Images

“And it's important also that when you have Levi [Colwill] out or Tosin out, that the other ones are ready. We need balance for Josh, because he's obviously 19 and still developing, but he needs minutes to develop even more.”

Maresca added: “It is our duty as a coaching staff, my duty as a manager, to try to help the players to improve. Because if we improve the players, we improve the team.

“So we are doing exactly the same with Josh. We work every day to try to improve him.”

Acheampong recalled what his manager had asked of him before the match. “To be confident, to be aggressive, just to play my game,” he answered. That he delivered.

For Chelsea, attention turns now to Ajax, who visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the Champions League. Maresca can choose between Chalobah, Tosin and Wesley Fofana in central defence, or Acheampong, the man of the moment. Whether then or beyond, unquestionably there are plenty more minutes to come for him.