StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

CHELSEA’S LIGHTNING START SEES TWO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RECORDS FALL VS AJAX

Chelsea broke their youngest UCL scorer record twice in one half! Marc Guiu (19) scored, then Estevao (18) claimed the crown in a 5-1 rout of Ajax, highlighting a youth revolution.

Chelsea’s Lightning Start Sees Two Champions League Records Fall Vs Ajax
Estevao becomes our youngest #UCL goalscorer… 33 minutes after Marc broke the record - COURTESY/PHOTO

In the first half of their encounter against Ajax, Chelsea shattered their own Champions League record, and they did it again before halftime.

Against an Ajax team that was at the bottom of the league standings going into the match at Stamford Bridge, the Blues led 4-1 at halftime.

The Dutch visitors had a terrible forty-five minutes when midfielder Kenneth Taylor was sent out in the fifteenth minute for serious foul play.

After Marc Guiu gave Chelsea the lead, Moises Caicedo's goal in minute 28 gave Chelsea complete control.

Wout Weghorst, a former Manchester United striker, gave Ajax a response from the penalty spot, but Enzo Fernandez and Estevao also scored for Enzo Maresca's team to make it 4-1.

In the thrilling first half, Chelsea broke their own European record.

Guiu became Chelsea's youngest-ever Champions League goal scorer at the age of 19 years, 9 months, and 18 days.

With his goal 33 minutes later, however, Estevao—who is now 18 years, 5 months, and 28 days old—became the new record holder.

After the interval, Tyrique George gave Chelsea a 5-1 lead. Ironically, if Guiu and Estevao had not scored, he would have become the record striker at 19 years, 8 months, and 18 days.

The fact that three adolescents have scored in a Chelsea European match for the first time highlights Maresca's confidence in young players throughout his tenure as manager of Stamford Bridge.

Josh Acheampong, a 19-year-old centre-back, started his first Premier League game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and scored in the 3-0 victory.

"I am really glad for Josh that he could score his first goal for the club," Maresca stated following the game. He needs to keep up his hard work even though he is a good player. He will undoubtedly play a significant role for this team.

"I have shown my admiration for Josh on numerous occasions. Last season, we had faith in him. He is doing great. It is equally critical that the others are prepared when Tosin or Levi [Colwill] are not.

"He definitely needs to get better. As a coaching staff and as a manager, it is our responsibility to assist the players in becoming better. The team will improve if the players do.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

top-news
Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

top-news
Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News