Maresca favourite seizes Chelsea chance to hand new selection headache

Summer Signing Shines in Conference League to Stake Starting Spot After Scoring His First Chelsea Goal

On a night when Chelsea’s attack looked unstoppable, the moment that stood out most to manager Enzo Maresca was the fourth and final goal, calmly slotted in by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Maresca made a complete 11-player rotation as Chelsea kicked off their Conference League campaign with a 4-2 win over Gent. It started with summer signing Renato Veiga netting his first goal for the Blues, and Dewsbury-Hall ended it in style with his debut strike for the club.

“It meant a lot,” Dewsbury-Hall said after the match. “I’ve been waiting for that moment since I arrived. Scoring at that end of the pitch made it even more special, something I won’t forget.”

The 26-year-old midfielder joined Chelsea in July for £30 million, just a month after his former Leicester City boss, Maresca, made the switch to Stamford Bridge. Dewsbury-Hall followed him, ready for a new chapter in his career.

Even though Maresca claims he doesn’t have two separate squads at Chelsea, in reality, Dewsbury-Hall is part of a group of players who will mostly feature in the Carabao Cup, Conference League, and FA Cup once that starts in January.

Dewsbury-Hall impressed in the Gent match, not only by scoring but also by starting the play that led to Veiga’s goal. He cleverly slipped a pass to Mykhailo Mudryk, who then crossed for Veiga to head home Chelsea’s first. Throughout the match, Dewsbury-Hall’s calm leadership helped guide his young midfield partner, Cesare Casadei, and it was clear Maresca was thrilled for him.

“Yes, probably,” Maresca said when asked if Dewsbury-Hall’s goal celebration meant more to him than the others. “I know Kiernan very well from last season, and I understand how tough this moment is for him. At Leicester, he was a key player, and now, at Chelsea, he’s one of many talented players. It’s tough when you’re not starting or even in the squad sometimes.”

He continued, “But he has to remember that we brought him here for a reason. That goal was important for him, and that’s why the celebration felt special.”

Dewsbury-Hall, like many of his Chelsea teammates, knows the Conference League offers a perfect stage to prove himself. If he plays well, he could earn more minutes in the Premier League. However, breaking into Maresca’s first-choice team won’t be easy. Dewsbury-Hall has to compete with Chelsea’s star-studded midfield, including Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Cole Palmer, to get regular Premier League action.

Against Gent, Dewsbury-Hall did everything he could—spraying passes, pushing the team forward, and finally scoring his first goal. It was a performance that surely caught Maresca’s eye.

Reflecting on the match, Dewsbury-Hall said, “This squad is one of the strongest in the Premier League, the amount of quality is incredible. For players like me, it’s about giving the manager a tough decision. That’s all you can do.”

He added, “I feel great. I started the season with an injury, but that’s behind me now. I’m looking forward to what’s next.”