Football
Enzo Maresca selection decisions pay off as Chelsea pressure eases with Legia Warsaw win
Blues boss vindicated by faith in youngsters and early withdrawal of Cole Palmer in rousing Conference League victory
Criticism landed at Enzo Maresca’s door for some of his selection decisions in the goalless draw with Brentford on Sunday, but the Chelsea manager’s faith in teenagers Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong and choice of substitutes paid off in Warsaw. The Blues have more than one foot in the Conference League semi-finals already.
Cole Palmer was back for Chelsea yet ineffectual in the first half. Replaced at half-time in favour of Noni Madueke, that allowed George to move centrally and then to score his first senior goal just four minutes later. Either side of a penalty missed by the confidence-shorn Christopher Nkunku, Madueke netted goals two and three.
