‘Start him and win the match’ – Chelsea player should be given first start since August in Conference League vs Noah
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Chelsea returns to European action on Thursday night as they host Armenian side FC Noah at Stamford Bridge in a Conference League group-stage match. Blues manager Enzo Maresca has so far used this competition to rotate his squad, resting key players and giving others valuable game time. Despite the rotations, Chelsea remains at the top of their group after convincing victories over Gent and Panathinaikos.
Pundit Chris Sutton previously remarked it would be “embarrassing” if Chelsea failed to win the Conference League, given their strength compared to the other teams. With this in mind, Maresca could again shuffle his lineup, and one young player who stands out as a potential starter is 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu. Signed from Barcelona over the summer, Guiu is currently the third-choice center-forward at Chelsea, behind Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.
Opportunities for Guiu have been scarce, with Jackson leading the line in the Premier League and Nkunku getting priority in cup games. However, the game against FC Noah presents a chance for Maresca to hand Guiu a rare start and see what the young Spaniard can bring to the team. Guiu impressed during pre-season with his speed and energy, but regular appearances have been hard to come by since then.
Maresca reportedly pushed for Chelsea to secure Guiu’s signature during the last transfer window, so this could be a prime opportunity to reward him with game time. Fellow Chelsea player Marc Cucurella has described Guiu as “promising,” and Thursday’s game could be a crucial moment for him to make his mark. If he doesn’t see the pitch against Noah, however, it might raise questions about his path to first-team action this season.
