3 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Chelsea make major medal decision following their Conference League triumph - as Enzo Maresca looks to reward his squad for their success
Every Chelsea academy graduate who appeared in their victorious Conference League campaign will receive a winners' medal for helping the Blues make history in becoming the first club to win it all in Europe.
Though many of the starlets such as 16-year-old Reggie Walsh and Shim Mheuka, 17, were not in Wroclaw, Poland to see the 4-1 win over Real Betis which completed their collection of European trophies, they are set to get their reward upon returning to Cobham.
Chelsea received 50 medals in total from UEFA and other youngsters who contributed to the Conference League run included Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Genesis Antwi, Ato Ampah, Harrison Murray-Campbell and Kiano Dyer – all of whom were handed their debuts by Enzo Maresca – while Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong were heavily involved in the first-team action.
Chelsea used 36 players in total in the Conference League and Mail Sport has been told all of the senior stars who were eligible to appear in the group and knockout stages are receiving a medal.
That is expected to include Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and Carney Chukwuemeka, despite them all departing the club on loan in the winter window.
That includes academy stars such as Shim Mheuka(left) and Reggie Walsh(right) who did not travel to Wednesday's final
It is not yet clear what will happen with those who appeared but then departed permanently, such as Harvey Vale, who signed for QPR, and Cesare Casadei, now at Torino.
Mykhailo Mudryk was handed his medal in Wroclaw as he travelled to Poland to watch the final and joined the team at their afterparty. He is still suspended from football for failing a doping test.
After the playing squad get the majority of the 50 medals on offer, the others go to Maresca and his coaching staff, such as assistant Willy Caballero.
