“I fell in love tonight” – Maresca raves about academy product, and it’s not Tyrique George | OneFootball

Tyrique George was Chelsea’s best attacking player tonight against Legia Warsaw, and was rewarded with his first goal in senior football. It was one that clearly meant a lot to him.

There was tons of praise for him from all over, including from Joe Cole on TNT Sport.

After the game in the post-match press conference Enzo Maresca was asked about him:

“Very happy first of all for the Chelsea academy because it’s one of our boys from the academy, and I’m very happy for him too. He was quite good first half, he took responsibility. In the second half in the middle he probably even a bit better.”

Maresca “in love” with academy product

Josh Acheampong stars against Legia. (Photo by Piotr Hawalej/Getty Images)

But unprompted, after praising George, Maresca went right into some much more effusive praise for the other academy teenager in the team, Josh Acheampong:

“But the one that I fall in love tonight is Josh Acheampong, because for me potentially he can be fantastic player, top player for this club, for football in general, ” the coach raved post game.

“A good player shows you that he can play in different position and he can do well anywhere. He was full back: good. Midfielder: good. Central defender: good. So it’s not about playing this position or that position, if you are a good player you play in different positions.

“Tonight I fell in love with Josh, but to be honest since we started the season I’ve been in love with him. Tonight he showed that he can be a very good player for this club.”

Both George and Acheampong played superbly and have really earned their place in the Conference League team. We hope Maresca sticks with them for the rest of the competition as a reward.