CHELSEA showed that pre-season might be merely a formality as they rolled over AC Milan by four goals to one to lift the one they all wanted: the coveted VisitMalta Weekender trophy.
The Blues have made two supposedly decent teams look like amateurs, in what were hardly tough tests for Enzo Maresca‘s young team before playing Crystal Palace in the opening game of their season.
Shutterstock EditorialJoao Pedro was on target again to cement his place in the Chelsea XI[/caption]
AFPBut he has Liam Delap breathing down his neck after a brace against AC Milan[/caption]
GettyChelsea were helped out by Andrei Coubis’ disasterclass after an own goal and red card in the first half[/caption]
GettyYoussouf Fofana scored for Milan in the second half[/caption]
ReutersBut Chelsea added another in the dying minutes as the new signings shone[/caption]
New signing Jamie Gittens announced himself to the world against AC Milan for Borussia Dortmund two seasons ago, who may well be his favourite opponents as he gave their defence – Yunus Musah in particular – a torrid time today.
The electric Englishman was perhaps overshadowed by Estevao against Bayer Leverkusen, but put in a performance today that showed he could nutmeg a mermaid in a telephone box if ever put to the test.
It was his direct running and trickery that won the free-kick for Chelsea to open the scoring through an Andrei Coubis own goal on the stroke of the fifth minute, after a calamitous mix-up between the Italian and Mike Maignan in the Milan goal.
Moments later and Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto combined for the Brazilian to head home his fifth goal in five games.
A driving run from Neto down the right was followed by an inch-perfect cross, met by a header that could’ve ripped a hole in the net to add Chelsea’s second in as many minutes.
He’s proving exceptional value for his £60million fee.
The Blues continued to dominate until the half-time whistle, helped out on the way by Milan defender Coubis’ afternoon going from bad to worse with a straight red card for bringing down Pedro who was through on goal.
The Italian booted a water bottle as he stormed down the tunnel, and rightly so, you may not see a worse 17 minutes at Stamford Bridge this season than that.
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Cole Palmer twice went close from first-half free-kicks, one that left the post rattling and another which left former Chelsea target Maignan being ridiculed as a “s*** Robert Sanchez”.
The Blues’ No10 almost went on to recreate Gus Poyet‘s famous 1999 ‘scissor volley’ minutes later, but his effort just sailed over the bar.
Unsurprisingly, it was Rafael Leao who led the AC Milan charge.
He was denied by Robert Sanchez, Tosin and Reece James before finally beating the Spanish stopper, only to see the offside flag raised on the near side.
Half-time brought the introduction of six-time Champions League winner, Ballon d’Or winner and Swansea part-owner Luka Modric into the middle for Milan.
The Croatian was left chasing the shadows of Chelsea’s young and energetic midfield throughout the second half, his only highlight being a tame shot claimed by Sanchez.
After the disastrous news that future captain Levi Colwill required surgery on an ACL injury, Maresca will have winced as Trevoh Chalobah was forced off with a knock in the 56th minute and replaced by Josh Acheampong.
ReutersTrevoh Chalobah’s injury was the only downside to an impressive Chelsea pre-season outing[/caption]
Milan grew into the game in the second half, and simply had to score when Musah rolled the ball past Sanchez before James arrived on the scene to put that fire out.
Expectedly, a flurry of Chelsea changes came with 30 minutes to go, and unsurprisingly, it was teenage prodigy Estevao replacing Palmer that drew the biggest cheer at Stamford Bridge.
It took the 18-year-old exactly five minutes to be involved in another Chelsea goal, as he was brought down inside the box, allowing Liam Delap to rifle a penalty into the bottom left corner.
The rest of his touches brought an expectant gasp out of everyone in the stadium, as he danced and dazzled with fancy footwork in front of the Matthew Harding stand.
AC Milan got a consolation goal, courtesy of Youssouf Fofana, who smashed the ball past Sanchez at the near post with 20 minutes to go, assisted by Alexis Saelemaekers.
Just when fans thought that would be game, set, and match, Chelsea added a fourth and final goal.
Andrey Santos’ perfectly weighted ball into the path of Delap allowed the English striker to make it a brace with a fine finish into the bottom left corner.
Chelsea’s transfer deals
IN
Joao Pedro – from Brighton – £60m
Jamie Gittens – from Dortmund – £52m
Jorell Hato – from Ajax – £37m
Liam Delap – from Ipswich – £30m
Estevao – from Palmeiras – £29m
Dario Essugo – from Sporting Lisbon – £18.5m
Kendry Paez – from Independiente – £17.5m
Mamadou Sarr – from Strasbourg – £12.5m
TOTAL – £256.5m
OUT
Noni Madueke – to Arsenal – £52m
Joao Felix – to Al-Nassr – £44m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – to Everton – £28m
Djordje Petrovic – to Bournemouth – £25m
Lesley Ugochukwu – to Burnley – £25m
Bashir Humphreys – to Burnley – £15m
Mathis Amougou – to Strasbourg – £12.5m
Kepa Arrizabalaga – to Arsenal – £5m
Marcus Bettinelli – to Man City – £5m
TOTAL – £183.5m
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