Chelsea celebrated their 200th Champions League appearance in historic fashion on Wednesday night, thrashing 10-man Ajax 5-1 at Stamford Bridge and setting a new competition record built on the brilliance of their young stars.
The rout began with 19-year-old Marc Guiu, who became the club’s youngest Champions League scorer, but his record lasted only until first-half stoppage time when Brazilian sensation Estevão Willian took centre stage.
Estevão (18 years, 181 days) confidently converted a penalty he had won, becoming the new record holder for the Blues.
The historic night was sealed shortly after the break when half-time substitute Tyrique George, 19, scored the fifth goal, ensuring Chelsea became the first side in Champions League history to have three different teenagers score in the same match.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández (penalty) scored the other goals.The match was simplified by the early dismissal of Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor, but manager Enzo Maresca was quick to praise his side’s burgeoning talent.
Maresca hailed the victory as a “special night for the club, for the young players,” a testament to the club’s youth-driven strategy which also saw the introduction of Reggie Walsh, the second-youngest Englishman ever to play in the competition.
Chelsea’s comprehensive victory, their second consecutive win following an opening defeat to Bayern Munich, sends a clear signal to Europe that the club’s long-term youth revolution under Maresca is gathering formidable momentum.
The records that tumbled prove the future is bright at Stamford Bridge.