Joe Claims compares Chelsea youngster with Barcelona legend Luis Suarez after 3-1 win over FC Astana – as ex-Blues winger claims the club have ‘a real gem’

Chelsea legend Joe Cole has likened one of the club’s youngsters to Barcelona legend Luis Suarez after their 3-1 win over FC Astana on Thursday night.

In ice-cold climes, the Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca shuffled the pack and saw rotation quickly pay dividends when Marc Guiu found the back of the net within 14 minutes. 

The former Barcelona youngster helped the side double the score four minutes later, before Renato Veiga struck just before 40 minutes to put them in the driving seat.

It was 18-year-old Guiu, who had only scored once for the Blues prior to their clash with FC Astana, who caught the eye of former Chelsea winger Cole.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Cole said: ‘Marc Guiu! He must have watched Luis Suarez as a young man in Barcelona. He’s got great movement. 

When dissecting Guiu’s first goal, he said: ‘He makes an inside to outside run and this is all about ability and athleticism as he just drives past these centre-half. That is exquisite from a young man. It’s a great finish’.

After the match, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole was full of praise for one Chelsea player

Cole’s adoration for Guiu didn’t stop there however. After full-time, the former Chelsea star return to the microphone to shower the striker in praise. 

‘I love Marc Guiu. Like I said, this is exactly the game where he’ll give you energy and aggression with his running. 

‘Just think, this kid is 18, how big and strong he’ll be when he’s older. I think Chelsea have got a real gem there. 

‘I think he’s a Chelsea player but maybe it’s a year down the line. We don’t know the path he’s going to choose but he’s certainly very talented’.

Karen Carney, who joined Cole on TNT Sports punditry duty, agreed and said: ‘I can’t believe his physicality for an 18 year old. To use his body and his strength [like that]. This is what this competition is about, getting players confidence up.

Meanwhile, Chelsea fans who made the journey have been given a touching commerative gift to mark the mammoth journey. 

The Uefa Conference League tie in Almaty is the furthest that the Blues have ever travelled for a European game, with the Almaty Ortalyk stadium a staggering 3,485 miles from Stamford Bridge. 

Cole claimed that Chelsea have a ‘real gem’ on their hands with forward Marc Guiu

The ex-Chelsea star even compared Guiu to former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez

The last time Chelsea travelled anywhere near as far for European competition came at the 2019 Europa League final – but Azerbaijan’s Baku National Stadium was a mere 3,000 miles from west London. 

After arriving at the mid-point of the 7,000 mile trip in Kazakhstan on Thursday, fans were then greeted with temperatures of minus 10 on matchday. 

But after a 10-hour – or more – journey from London, supporters who made the journey were also handed a momento to mark the milestone. 

Mail Sport reported that the fans were given a commemorative key chain when they collected their tickets the afternoon before the clash.