Walsh highlights Chelsea’s vision for the future but also the ghosts of the recent past.
Against Ajax, Chelsea gave minutes to 10 players aged 21 or younger, having not played a player over the age of 28 since the beginning of last season.
Chelsea broke several other records on Wednesday, including:
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Marc Guiu, 19, becoming Chelsea’s youngest Champions League scorer
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This was broken 33 minutes later when Estevao Willian, 18, scored a penalty
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Chelsea also became the first team in Champions League history to have three teenage scorers when academy product Tyrique George scored just after half-time
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Jamie Gittens is the youngest Chelsea player on record (since 2003/04) to create five or more chances in a Champions League match (21 years and 75 days), a record previously held by Eden Hazard, having also provided an assist.
The Blues are the youngest team in the Premier League and are among the youngest teams in Europe’s top five leagues, coming second behind only sister club Strasbourg last season, which is under the same BlueCo American ownership.
Chelsea’s strategy, which sometimes faces criticism, is by design and one they believe will lead to greater success in the long-term, having already won the Conference League and Club World Cup last season.
Despite that, signing so many young players can send the wrong message to the club’s famed academy and there is a delicate balance to be struck.
Chelsea were horrified when they lost attacker Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool in 2024 and vowed it would never happen again.
Since then, Maresca gave a record eight academy players their debuts last season, albeit against lesser competition in the Conference League.
In addition to Walsh, older academy graduates George and Josh Acheampong, both 19, have been given full-time first-team roles.
Meanwhile, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, 16, was on the bench against Ajax for the first time and is among an exciting future generation.
