Chelsea have been so dominant all through this 12 months’s Europa Convention League that, whereas sweeping apart nearly each group in entrance of them, they’ve additionally been ready to make use of the competitors to blood numerous children.
The Blues have one foot within the closing after a cushty 4-1 win over Djurgarden of their semi-final first leg on Thursday – and this time it was 16-year-old Reggie Walsh’s flip to be launched on the worldwide stage.
Nonetheless of schoolboy age, he’s unable to signal an expert contract till his seventeenth birthday in October.
However Walsh is now Chelsea’s third youngest ever participant, behind solely midfielder Ian Hamilton and goalkeeper Kingsley Whiffen – who made their debuts in 1967 – having entered the pitch at 3Arena six months and 11 days after his sixteenth birthday.
When requested by BBC Sport why he selected to carry on Walsh, who nearly scored from the sting of the field together with his first contact, Maresca mentioned: “He is very younger, however in the best way we need to play, in our manner, in our model, he is excellent.
“However he is nonetheless very younger, he must be taught, he must work laborious and he must develop for positive.
“However we’re glad, they only mentioned to me that we gave eight debuts this season from the academy. I feel it is good.”
On whether or not Walsh now must give attention to his GCSEs, Maresca added: “That is crucial factor for him at this second, little doubt!”
Walsh is a technically gifted midfield and has performed principally for the under-18s this season, registering 4 targets and two assists in 15 video games, whereas additionally making two appearances for the under-21 facet.
He joined Chelsea on the age of seven and progressed by way of the age teams at Cobham, having grown up in west London. He has represented England too, from the under-15s by way of to the under-17s.
Maresca was pictured whispering in his ear as Walsh ready to come back on, later revealing that he advised {the teenager} to “benefit from the second, be glad and play the best way he is coaching with us each day”.
“He is so good as a result of he makes every thing simple,” mentioned the Italian.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, who scored a brace within the second half, additionally mentioned of Walsh on TNT Sports activities: “He is an excellent participant, top of the range. For positive he’s going to go far. I am very glad for him to make his debut. I hope [there’s] extra to come back for him and I’m very glad for him.”
