Chelsea traveled to Sweden for the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final against Djurgårdens IF and took a strong step toward the final. In the first half, Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke scored, followed by Nicolas Jackson’s brace in the second half. Djurgårdens IF managed to pull one back, but it doesn’t seem to pose a threat to Chelsea’s path to the final. Enzo Maresca discussed various aspects of the match afterward.

Team Performance?

I’m very pleased with the result and the team’s performance. It’s a great win in a European semi-final, so it’s fantastic and very important. We planned the game to play one way in the first half and differently in the second. We performed well, even though we dropped off a bit in the last 15 minutes, but I’m satisfied. Previously, we were 3-0 up against Legia and then faced difficulties, so now we must ensure we finish the job at home.

Giving 17-year-old Reggie Walsh a chance?

I was excited to give him the opportunity. He fits perfectly with our style of play. We’re happy with his performance. He’s the eighth player from our academy to make his senior debut. He’s ideal for our system, but naturally, he’s still a young player, and we must protect him. I just told him to enjoy the experience before stepping onto the pitch.

Nicolas Jackson’s two goals?

He scored two goals tonight and also scored against Everton. Suddenly, he looks like a different player. I hope the same happens for Cole Palmer. He just needs to get going. If you remember the game against Warsaw, both Nico and Cole struggled, but now Nico has confidence. I hope Cole starts scoring and assisting soon.

Nottingham Forest’s result and Brentford’s loss benefiting your Champions League qualification race?

Yes, I’m aware of the result, but we must focus on ourselves—that’s the most important thing.