Enzo Maresca explains why he’s reluctant to start Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca is quite unpopular with fans in some regards, but his record using academy players is pretty good.

Of course supporters always want to see more home grown youngsters, and see them given more chances. But the Italian coach has balanced the needs of his other squad players with the desire to try out Cobham products in the Champions League.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a damn sight better than some previous coaches we’ve had.

One of his real success stories has been Tyrique George. His role in the Conference League team has grown all season, to the point where he’s played the 5th most minutes in that competition among the whole squad. Last weekend he extended that influence to the Premier League when he scored a crucial equaliser against Fulham.

Asked in today’s press conference whether the winger would be getting a start anytime soon, Maresca was quick to pour cold water on any such thoughts:

“Yeah [he’s pushing for a start]. But now for a young player, although we are excited, we need to manage them because they can be too easily excited and can also be too easily down. Him and Josh Acheampong, both at the beginning of the season were looking for different solutions but they started the pre-season with us and we saw they can be good for us, so we decided to keep them.”

Maresca tries to manage “up and down” youngsters

Enzo Maresca inlayed on a Josh Acheampong shot. (Photo by Piotr Hawalej/Getty Images)

Coaches are always more cautious than fans in these circumstances. We seem him play well and think he’s ready to start, Acheampong too. Maresca sees them behind the scenes and doesn’t yet think they’re there yet. We’ll have to trust him on this one. But if Nicolas Jackson continues to struggle up top, the arguments against throwing George in grow less and less.