Nkunku scores as Maresca’s men win again

Christopher Nkunku celebrated his recall to the France squad with a goal as Chelsea’s much-changed team crushed Gent 4-2 in the Conference League tonight.

Nkunku was named in Les Bleus’ squad for the games with Israel and Belgium earlier in the day after proving his fitness following an injury-ravaged first season at Stamford Bridge.

And he again showed his eye for goal by notching his seventh of the season as Enzo Maresca’s men secured their fifth successive win in all competitions.

Renato Veiga put Chelsea on their way in the 12th minute and Pedro Neto doubled their advantage a minute into the second half.

Andri Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur, created a goal for Tsuyoshi Watanabe as Gent briefly threatened but Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored to put Chelsea 4-1 up.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bags his first goal for Chelsea ✅

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vwgKcpVo0o

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024

Gent never gave up and Omri Gandelman scored for them again in the final minute.

It was a memorable night for Dewsbury-Hall, who netted his first goal for the Blues following his summer move from Leicester. He told TNT Sports: “I’m over the moon. I’ve been waiting for that moment since joining the club, to show everyone what my qualities are.

“Scoring the goal is an amazing feeling. I won’t forget this night.

“I pride myself on working as hard as I can every day. I’d like to play more but it’s my duty to make sure the manager has a decision to make. I feel fresh.”

“You come through the door and expectations are through the roof. The standards are SO high” 📈

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is loving life at Chelsea 💙 pic.twitter.com/4z96YdbZtD

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024

Dewsbury-Hall admitted he was enjoying life at Chelsea even if first-team opportunities have been hard to come by.

He added: “I’ve loved it. You come through the door and expectations are through the roof. The standards are so high. It’s so nice to play with players on your wavelength – top, top players.

“It’s about learning and evolving. That’s literally what I’m here for.

“He [Enzo Maresca] is a breath of fresh air. I was taken aback by him last year. Everything he did was passionate and motivated. You can see the lads are buying into it.”

Maresca was equally pleased with Chelsea’s performance, albeit irritated by the late defensive lapse the gave Gent their second goal.

He said: “Good performance. It was a tough game and we approached it well very. It’s a shame the second goal we conceded, we can avoid that.

“Every game is complicated. We have many things we can do better – attack better, defend better.

“The ones who play tonight, it doesn’t mean they won’t play the next game.

“I know Kiernan very well. I know when you are the main player and then move to a big club it’s not easy becuase you’re not the main player. Sometimes you struggle a bit at the beginning so I was very happy for him.”