Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was pleased with his side’s display as a 5-1 thrashing of Shamrock Rovers completed a perfect Conference League group phase for the favourites.
Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea made sure of top spot – meaning they won’t play in the competition again until March.
Joining Chelsea in the top eight qualifiers for the last 16 are Vitoria, Fiorentina, Rapid Vienna, Djurgarden, Lugano, Legia Warsaw and Cercle Brugge.
Maresca said: “I am very happy with the performances and results. In these kind of games it is easy not to do. They showed how professional they are and this is the right way.
“Since we started we have tried to share minutes – tonight was for young players.
“Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are still very young, but we are very happy with them.”
‘Marc is unhappy’
Guiu took advantage of two errors in the defence to score before a fine header brought him a treble and a place at the top of the goalscoring chart in the competition.
It’s a first half hat-trick for 18-year-old Marc Guiu as he heads home to give Chelsea a 4-1 lead 😮💨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/qYWeqUgbIn
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 19, 2024
The 18-year-old has six goals in the Conference League but has only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far.
Maresca said: “Marc is a bit unhappy as Nicolas [Jackson] and Christopher [Nkunku] are doing well.
“When you’re a nine and another nine is doing well it is a matter of being questioned. It is important that they work hard day-by-day and then they get a chance.
“In January we don’t want to sell players, but players who are not playing a lot will be a bit unhappy.
“It depends on what happens in January and then we decide.”
