Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was full of praise for teenage midfielder Reggie Walsh after the Blues sealed a 1-0 win over Djurgarden in the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg on Thursday.

The 16-year-old made his first senior start for Chelsea, slotting into Maresca’s system seamlessly. A first-half goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall proved enough to secure the victory at Stamford Bridge, sending Chelsea to the final with a 5-1 aggregate win.

They will now face Real Betis in the final later this month. Betis edged Fiorentina 4-3 across both legs in their own semi-final clash. Speaking after the game, Maresca shared his thoughts on Walsh’s standout performance.

“He was smiling, relaxed, and just enjoying himself,” Maresca said. “I told him to play like he does in training. You could see he wasn’t scared, just confident.” The Chelsea boss added, “Reggie fits perfectly into the way I want my team to play. At just 16, the way he demanded the ball and handled possession was impressive.”

Maresca also gave a lighthearted reminder of Walsh’s age: “Tomorrow, he still has to go to school—but there’s no doubt he’s a very talented player.” Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend as they prepare to take on Newcastle United.