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• Maresca thrilled with 'serious' Chelsea after Conference League romp

  Enzo Maresca was thrilled with the "serious" performance Chelsea put in during their 8-0 drubbing of Armenian minnows Noah in the Europa Conference League.

  Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku scored twice at Stamford Bridge, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk also got themselves on the scoresheet. 

  The Blues were six goals to the good by half-time, the biggest advantage by an English side at the break of a major European game since Derby County were winning 9-0 against Finn Harps in the 1976-77 UEFA Cup.

  Chelsea are also top of the 36-team league table on goal difference, having scored 16 times in their three matches in the competition so far.

  Maresca was impressed by the way his side ensured there was no slacking against evidently inferior opposition.

  "I think the players showed how professional and serious they are. It is very easy to sleep in these kind of games," Maresca said after the game.

  "Football is full of surprises. It was to show how serious we are, how professional. They showed that and it's an important message for all of us.

  "In the first five minutes, we conceded a chance. You have to be focused. The way to show respect to them, don't underestimate them. 

  "Football is full of these kind of surprises. We don't need that."

  Speaking to TNT Sports, Maresca was especially pleased considering he once again made wholesale changes from the side ordinarily seen in the Premier League.

  "Very impressed, especially because we are trying to change players every game. It works well," he added.

  "We have good players, and we want them to get minutes. Some of them play in the conference, some in the Premier League, but all of them want to play every game."

  The Stamford Bridge faithful could be heard chanting 'we want 10' during the game, but centre-back Adarabioyo was equally delighted with the clean sheet.

  "I didn't [know fans were chanting 'we want 10']. Didn't manage 10 but a great result," he told TNT Sports.

  "Concentration is key to make sure we have the clean sheet at the end of the game and we managed to do so. I've been thinking I needed a goal soon, so very happy to get one.

  "Never take your foot off the gas. We just kept going. Set out for the clean sheet and we managed to get that. We haven't had one for a while."

  Up next for Chelsea is a return to Premier League action, hoping to carry the momentum for their convincing triumph against an out of sorts Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. 

• 'Incredible' Amad the difference for Man Utd in PAOK win, says Van Nistelrooy

  Ruud van Nistelrooy described Amad Diallo's attitude as "incredible" after he was rewarded for his patience with a match-winning double in Manchester United's 2-0 Europa League win over PAOK.

  The winger had not started a game for the Red Devils since October 3 but made the most of his opportunity by scoring twice in the second half following an insipid opening 45 from the hosts at Old Trafford.

  Amad's double was his first Red Devils brace, while five of his six goals in all competitions for United have come at Old Trafford. 

  Interim boss Van Nistelrooy, who has one more game in charge before handing over to Ruben Amorim after the international break, was full of praise for Amad, who also scored his first Europa League strikes since March 2021.

  Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "I think Amad made a difference for us today obviously, because of his goals, but he was sharp.

  "I think in the first half he was also one of the few who was at his level. So well done to him, good game.

  "He's been incredible (in training) actually, every time he was never affected by not playing, always training, always staying on the pitch, always saying 'Ruud let's do more'."

  Amad's second goal was particularly brilliant as he won the ball back deep in PAOK territory, drove forward, and bent a lovely 20-yard effort into the left-hand side of the goal, albeit with a slight aid of a deflection.

  Van Nistelrooy added: "He made his own goal. Coming inside with the left, getting inside the far post was excellent.

  "But I think this is what made the goal, he won his own duel and then took the shot for the goal."

  Diallo's impressive display saw him register more shots on target (three) and touches in the opposition box (10) than any other player on the pitch. 

  He also completed the most successful dribbles (two), while also competing in 16 duels during the contest, the joint-highest for the Red Devils along with Victor Lindelof.

  Diallo himself praised the work Van Nistelrooy has done since returning to Old Trafford as part of the backroom staff under previous manager Erik ten Hag in the summer. 

  "Since he arrived at Manchester United he has been very important for everyone," he said. 

  Prior to their victory over the Greek side, United were winless in six consecutive European matches (D4, L2), matching their worst stretch since 1980 to 1983.

  It means they have still never gone seven without a win in European fixtures, though Diallo believed their triumph against PAOK was just as important as getting his season up and running. 

  "It's been a long time since we won in Europe. Today we showed why we are one of the best teams. It was important to win today.

  "It is important to score every time. This season I have been unlucky, so I am happy to score two today. But the most important thing was to win.

  "I like to celebrate with the fans and make people happy."

• Chelsea 8-0 Noah: Ruthless Blues stay perfect after first-half rout

  Chelsea continued their quest for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League by hammering Noah 8-0 on Thursday. 

  Enzo Maresca's side are one of six sides still with a perfect record in the competition, but sit top of the pile with their superior goal difference following their Stamford Bridge mauling.

  Tosin Adarabioyo headed the hosts into a 12th minute lead before Marc Guiu capitalised on Goncalo Silva's loose pass 84 seconds later to double their advantage. 

  Chelsea notched their third from another corner, this time through Axel Disasi, with another defensive error punished by Joao Felix's deft finish over Ognjen Cancarevic. 

  Mykhailo Mudryk then netted the pick of the first-half goals with a curled effort into the top corner, with Felix grabbing his brace four minutes before the interval. 

  It then took Chelsea 24 minutes to get their seventh. Christopher Nkunku saw his initial effort saved by Cancarevic but was able to squeeze in the rebound at the near post. 

  Yan Eteki then fouled Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the box, with a penalty given after a VAR review. Nkunku stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle for his fifth goal of the competition this season. 

  Data Debrief: Blues sink Noah's Ark

  Chelsea are on a roll in the Europa Conference League and have now scored 16 goals in their three games in the competition so far. 

  Six of those came in the first half, with their 6-0 advantage at the interval the biggest by an English side at the break of a major European game since Derby County were winning 9-0 against Finn Harps in the 1976-77 UEFA Cup.

  The Blues ended the contest with a whopping 5.44 expected goals (xG) from their 31 shots, compared to Noah's 0.61 from their 15 attempts on Filip Jorgensen's net.