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7 hours ago
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After Chelsea booked their place in the final of the UEFA Conference League, former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole praised teenager Reggie Walsh, who made his first senior start for the club.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the winning goal on the night to give the Blues a 1-0 win on the night and a 5-1 win on aggregate as they booked their spot in the final against Real Betis later this month.
Enzo Maresca named a number of Chelsea’s academy products in the starting eleven, but it was 16-year-old Reggie Walsh who stole the headlines on his first start at senior level for the club.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game on Thursday night, Cole said, “He’s been very comfortable. He’s looked at ease.”
“He’s got on the ball. He’s received the ball. He’s been the most fouled player on the pitch. He receives the ball well.”
“The biggest compliment you can pay a young player when they’re making their debut is they look at ease, and he has done.”
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How Walsh fared on his first senior start for Chelsea
Cole was accurate in his summary of Walsh’s performance on the night, as the teenager was central to most things that Chelsea did on the pitch.
The midfielder was heavily involved in Chelsea’s moves going forward and looked comfortable orchestrating the game in midfield for the Blues.
The fact that Maresca chose to start the teenager for the second leg at home yesterday is a testament to his abilities on the pitch, having only made his debut for the club in the first leg of the semifinal last week.
Given Walsh’s impressive performance against Djurgarden, it is safe to say that the future does look bright for the Welshman.
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