What Enzo Maresca did to Reggie Walsh speaks volumes in Chelsea victory vs Ajax

Reggie Walsh became Chelsea's youngest ever player in the Champions League on Wednesday evening with the 17-year-old midfielder coming on in the 5-1 win over Ajax

Reggie Walsh became Chelsea's youngest ever player in the Champions League on Wednesday evening with the 17-year-old making his debut in the European competition. The Blues academy star had turned 17 just two days before he was given the chance to run out under the lights at Stamford Bridge, with his side in a commanding position against Ajax.

On 65 minutes, Enzo Maresca turned to Walsh to finish the game for Chelsea and in turn, the midfielder became the second youngest Englishman, with Jack Wilshere holding that title, to play in the Champions League. Those inside Stamford Bridge were understandably excited to see Walsh, who made his senior debut for the Blues in May, coming on as a late substitute in the first-leg of the Conference League semi-final victory away at Djurgarden.

Walsh then started the second-leg and completed the full 90 minutes in SW6 as the west Londoners progressed into the final of the competition. Then followed a cameo appearance away at Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup third round earlier this season, but coming on against Ajax on Wednesday will be right up there in terms of the most unforgettable experiences of the teenager's life thus far.

There were chants from the Matthew Harding Stand of "Reggie, give us a wave" after he entered the pitch. Maresca, looking to protect Chelsea's wonderkid, got Walsh's attention during the chants and told him to calm down, essentially instructing the midfielder to ignore those behind the goal he was attacking.

It was a big moment for Walsh and Maresca was keen to ensure he was the utmost professional during his short time on the pitch. That he was, with Walsh impressing on the night, albeit with the second-half being straightforward and routine for the Blues, who smashed five past the 10-man Ajax.

Chelsea became the first side in Champions League history to have three teenagers score for them in a single match. Marc Guiu (19 years and 291 days) opened the scoring for the hosts in soaking conditions in west London before Estevao Willian (18 years and 181 days) netted Chelsea's fourth of the evening, with Tyrique George (19 years and 260 days) concluding the match early in the second-half.

"Very proud," Maresca replied when asked how he feels about that statistic. "It's a special night for the club, for the young players.

"I think Guiu already scored for Chelsea five or six goals last year in the Conference [League]. Ty already scored also in the Premier League. Estevao, exactly the same. I think overall it was a great night, especially for these young players and for the club."

The Chelsea head coach added: "It's the strategy of the club. We have so many young players. I think already last season we were the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, so this season we continue in the same way.

"We changed tonight from the Forest game, 10 players. It's not easy from the Premier League to the Champions League to change so many players, but we need to do that, otherwise they are going to struggle because of many games.

"We need to protect some of the players. Tonight I think was also good because we could rotate players, especially with the red card."