UEFA Conference League: Chelsea beats Heidenheim 2-0

BBC Sport, November 28 — Enzo Maresca says Jadon Sancho is an "important player" who is going to help Chelsea "a lot" after the England winger played a pivotal role in their latest European win.

Sancho marked his first start since 20 October with assists for both goals as the Blues maintained their flawless start in the Conference League with victory over Heidenheim in Germany.

The on-loan signing from Manchester United set up Christopher Nkunku for his fifth goal in four group phase games before teeing up Mykhailo Mudryk with four minutes left.

The result made it four wins out of four to keep Chelsea at the top of the 36-team group with two matches left.

Sancho, 24, has been missing with illness and injury recently, but boss Maresca said: "I said, since we start, Jadon is very important for us.

"He has to be fit, mentally and physically, and he is going to help us a lot. Unfortunately we did not use him in the last few games but he is showing how important he is.

"We need that quality in the last third against a low block. He is going to help us a lot."

Chelsea are now in a strong position to reach the last 16 and Sancho, who signed at the end of August after an unhappy spell at Old Trafford, added: "We want to go all the way and win this competition.

"It's like any other competition that we're in. We're always going to take it game by game, and hopefully we get the results that we want."

Chelsea, though, still required some big saves by keeper Filip Jorgensen to ensure they got the job done against their Bundesliga opponents.

With the game still goalless, the 22-year-old produced an outstanding one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner, while Jorgensen also came to his side's rescue - after Nkunku's 51st-minute opener - to keep out Leo Scienza and Wanner again.

The visitors finished the game with 10 men after midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in the sixth minute of added time for a second bookable offence.

Maresca's men had cruised to victory in their opening three group phase games - scoring 16 times in the process - but Heidenheim, who have enjoyed a fairytale climb through the leagues in Germany, provided them with their biggest test to date in the competition.

Christopher Nkunku celebrates with his Chelsea team-mates after scoring against Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League

Maresca driving Blues forward

Twenty games into Maresca's reign and Chelsea sit at the top of the Conference League, while they could finish this weekend second in the Premier League if results go their way.

They go to Kazakhstan next in Europe, but will make the mammoth journey to play Astana on 12 December with a place in the knockout phase within their grasp.

Chelsea can also register Cole Palmer for the knockout rounds after leaving their prize asset out of the group phase to manage his workload.

But will they need the England forward?

It's all going smoothly for the Blues in Europe's third-tier club competition, with Nkunku finding form in front of goal and Jorgensen pushing current number one Robert Sanchez hard for a place in Maresca's Premier League line-up.

The Europa Conference League might lack the glamour of the Champions League but it is proving more than useful for Maresca as he attempts to drive Chelsea forward.