As well as defender Josh Acheampong, who we have all been hearing a lot about lately, winger Tyrique George has been promoted to the senior side, getting an official locker in the dressing room and having an initiation by Enzo Maresca last week.
It was a beautiful moment for both players and shows that actually, under this new ownership group and under Maresca, there IS a pathway for the academy lads if they prove their worth and show that they deserve it and are good enough.
It’s been very refreshing to see Maresca and the club put some faith in youth but of course, the Conference League has really helped with that also and in fact, I think that has been THE biggest positive from playing against minnows in this competition alongside injury protection for key players.
George has been playing these games but he may well get called up some more going forward for the rest of this season, and that is because of the Mykhailo Mudryk situation. You’d have expected Mudryk to have started the last two games in the Conference League if he wasn’t under investigation for taking a banned substance, and George may not have got the nod.
But now, with Mudryk facing a long-term ban, George is going to get more chances to shine in the first team with more minutes coming his way, and what an opportunity for the 18-year-old who won’t turn 19 until February.
The Chelsea website describe George as ‘a tricky and exciting player’ who joined as an Under-8 after coming through the development centre programme.
Towards the end of the season he also made the bench on three occasions for the senior side and in the summer of 2024 he travelled to the United States to be part of the pre-season tour.
George made his debut for the men’s first team when he came on during the second half of a UEFA Conference League play-off match away in Switzerland, against Servette. He made further substitute appearances in the same competition versus Gent and in a Carabao Cup match against Barrow.
Against Noah in the Conference League George was given his first Chelsea start. and things have elevated from there.
I do like George, he is full of energy and is a real nuisance for defenders to mark because he can move either way and go on to either foot. I like him best off the left though and see that as being his most dangerous position. He has pace, is direct, and is confident on the ball.
Of course, he is young and raw and still very much learning and developing. I think his decision making needs to improve – when to pass, take a man on, or shoot, but that will come in time. He has looked a bit too keen to impress at times but again, that is just natural.
He’s the kind of winger that a full back hates to play against, he will stand you up and then sit you down in an instant. But he has a long way to go of course, and we have to remember that, he’s far from the finished article. But this is a fine chance now for him to develop some more and get some more vital first team minutes.
George was asked last week, what do you think you can achieve this season?
“Hopefully a Premier League debut, we will see!”
It won’t be long now.
