Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was delighted with his side’s display as a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers completed a perfect Conference League group stage for the favourites.
Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea secured top spot – meaning they won’t play in the competition again until March.
Chelsea are joined in the top eight qualifiers for the last 16 by Vitoria, Fiorentina, Rapid Vienna, Djurgarden, Lugano, Legia Warsaw and Circle Brugge.
Maresca said: “I’m very happy with the performances and the results. In these kinds of games it’s easy not to. They showed how professional they are and this is the right way.
“Ever since we started, we’ve been trying to share minutes – tonight was for young players.
Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are still very young, but we are very happy with them.
“Mark is unhappy”
Guiu took advantage of two defensive mistakes to score before a fine header earned him a hat-trick and a place at the top of the competition’s scorers’ table.
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
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 19, 2024
The 18-year-old has six goals in the Conference League but has made just one change 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 nine and nine others are doing well, it’s a matter of being interrogated. It’s important that they work hard day in and day out and then get a chance.
“In January we don’t want to sell players, but players who don’t play a lot will be a bit unhappy.
“It depends on what happens in January and then we will decide.”
