by The goal that most delighted Enzo Maresca on a night when Chelsea again looked irresistible at times in attack was his fourth and final goal, scored by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Maresca had made 11 changes as his side began their Conference League campaign proper with a 4-2 victory over Gent, and just as proceedings were opened by a summer signing scoring his first goal for the Blues (Renato Veiga) , Dewsbury-Hall assured him. ended up that way too.
“It meant a lot,” said the full-time Englishman. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since I got here. To achieve this as well, I will not forget this.
Dewsbury-Hall was the second man to swap Leicester for Stamford Bridge this summer, joining Chelsea in July for £30million, just a month after his former Foxes head coach Maresca left the King Power Stadium for the Blues.
Maresca insists he doesn’t have two teams at Chelsea, but in reality he does, and Dewsbury-Hall is currently a member of the squad that will be used in the Carabao Cup, Conference League and FA Cup when they begin in January.
The 26-year-old midfielder scored well against La Gantoise and declared the evening free as his disguised pass sent Mykhailo Mudryk past, allowing the Ukrainian to cross for Veiga to give Chelsea the lead. The influence of Dewsbury-Hall, guiding the 21-year-old midfield partner Cesare Casadei throughout the match, was positive. Maresca admitted he celebrated Dewsbury-Hall’s goal more than the others.
“Yes, probably,” he replied, “because I know Kiernan very well from last year.
“I said last week, I completely understand how difficult it is right now for Kiernan, in terms of [being] Leicester’s main player. You join Chelsea and become one of the players. You are on the bench, not in the team, you are not playing from the start. You have a little trouble at first.
“He needs to understand that the reason he’s here is because we want him. The celebration is probably because I know he needs it [goal].”
The challenge for Dewsbury-Hall and many other players in the Chelsea squad is to use the Conference League in particular as a platform to perform. Play well and Premier League minutes should follow.
It’s particularly taxing for Dewsbury-Hall, who know they have to dislodge £222m duo Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo or, indeed, one of the Premier League’s best players, Cole Palmer, he wants to penetrate Maresca’s thinking for the most important matches. .
I’ve been waiting for this moment since I got here… I won’t forget it
Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
He did everything he could against Ghent, spreading passes, always playing forward and opening his account for his new club. It was an opportunity taken.
“I personally think this team is one of the strongest in the Premier League,” Dewsbury-Hall said. “The quality we have is breathtaking. It’s important that the guys coming in try to give the manager a decision to make. That’s all you can do.
“I feel really good. I started the season with an injury, but it’s behind me now. I hope it goes higher and higher from here.
