Chelsea manager Enzo Marescan hails academy duo after Warsaw win

On a night when senior stars like Cole Palmer stepped aside, it was academy standout George who seized his moment, tapping in his first senior goal with the confidence of a seasoned pro. The 19-year-old, who's been knocking on the door all season, finally had his breakthrough in style-an instinctive finish following a Reece James thunderbolt parried into his path.

"I've played a few games now but it's good to get my first goal," said George, visibly buzzing post-match. And with performances like this, it may not be long before he forces his way into Premier League lineups too.

But it wasn't just George lighting it up. If Chelsea fans didn't know Acheampong before Thursday night, they do now. The 18-year-old right-back earned a glowing review from his manager.

"The one I fell in love with tonight", Maresca beamed, praising Acheampong's versatility, mentality, and hunger to grow. In a system that demands intelligent, positionally fluid football, Acheampong looked right at home.

It's becoming clear. Chelsea's famed Cobham academy isn't just producing talent-it's producing first-teamers.

The result puts Chelsea in a commanding position heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge, with a semi-final against Djurgardens or Rapid Vienna looming. But more than that, it signals something deeper -  a renewed faith in homegrown players as core components of Maresca's vision.

Chelsea, still chasing a top-five finish in the Premier League and a spot in next year's Champions League, may well have one eye on the future - and judging by this performance, the future is already here.

Joe Cole summed it up best: "He is a real bright spark, a dribbler, direct, a full-back's nightmare. The fans love him." That love may only grow stronger as George and his fellow academy graduates continue to rise. 

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