Marc Guiu scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea finished top of the Conference League table with a flawless record after a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers.
Enzo Maresca’s young second-string side breezed through the league phase and into the last 16, winning all six of their matches by scoring 26 goals and conceding five as Guiu increased the hype around him being one of the club’s future stars.
The 18-year-old striker, signed from Barcelona in the summer, capitalised on two errors on either side of the visitors’ memorable equaliser. Guiu applied the finishing touch on the opener after Darragh Burns misplaced his backward header before Rovers stunned Stamford Bridge when Markus Poom fired home at a corner.
Markus Poom stunned Chelsea with a first-half equaliser for Rovers
The visitors undid themselves again when Guiu intercepted Daniel Cleary’s back pass and slotted home with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall quickly adding a third with a cool finish from inside the box.
Guiu, though, made sure he was the star of an entertaining first period, rising to glance home Noni Madueke’s right-wing cross for his hat-trick.
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Sky Sports News’ David Richardson and James Cole react to Chelsea’s 5-1 win against Shamrock Rovers.
Marc Cucurella added a fifth just before the hour mark with a low strike at the end of a lovely move, but Shamrock managed to limit the damage in the second half although dropped out of the automatic places and had to settle for a play-off spot.
Maresca: Guiu will get his chance
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said:
“I’m very happy with the performance and the results. In this kind of game, sometimes you can underestimate, but once again they showed how serious they are, how professional they are and that’s the right way.”
On young players: “They know that if they don’t work hard and properly they are not going to play, no matter what the competition so they take the chance. That’s another reason I’m very happy with them.”
On Guiu: “Marc is a bit unlucky because Nicolas [Jackson] and Christopher [Nkunku] are doing well. When you are a No 9 and another is scoring goals and doing well, it’s a matter of patience. Marc is also very young so it’s important they work well day-by-day and they will get their chance.”
When asked if Guiu could go on loan in January: “Marc is young, we don’t know what will happen in January. Let’s see.”
On if he will add the likes of Palmer and Fofana to the Conference League squad and make changes: “It depends on January. We don’t want to sell players, but probably players that are not playing a lot, they might be unhappy and want to leave. Then we will see what happens.”
‘I have never seen anyone press like Guiu’
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hailed youngster Guiu after his hat-trick moved him top of the Conference League scoring charts.
“I like Marc, he’s an honest lad,” said Dewsbury-Hall. “He has just come from Spain and I have never seen anyone press like him.
“He never slows down, he is only 18 and I am happy he got his hat-trick.”
Bradley: Mistakes get punished at this level
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said:
“When you come to these places, you have to be right at the top of your game. You can’t give any silly goals away or make any mistakes because at this level, they punish you.
“Tonight, we gifted them two really poor goals… when you do that, it’s very difficult and that’s what it turned out to be. At this level, you get punished. That’s the learning for the group tonight.”
On equaliser: “It’s a special moment for our fans. They were brilliant all night even though the scoreline wasn’t good. It’s a night for them to enjoy and something that they’ll talk about for years to come.”
Conference League key dates
Knockout phase play-off draw: December 20
Knockout phase play-offs: February 13 & 20
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final draws: February 21
Round of 16: March 6 & 13
Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17
Semi-finals: May 1 & 8
Final: May 28 (Wroclaw)
