Estevao Willian scored on his debut earlier than Joao Pedro staked his declare for the beginning striker spot with a late second as Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 of their first pre-season pleasant.
Estevao, the 18-year-old Brazilian winger who signed from Palmeiras for £29m, proved why he’s so extremely rated, protecting his cool to volley in a close-range opener within the 18th minute earlier than dazzling together with his fast toes and lightning tempo on the best flank and later via the center.
Liam Delap began up entrance for Chelsea with fellow striker Nicolas Jackson not within the squad after telling the membership he desires to discover his switch choices this summer time, however the summer time signing had solely 13 touches in an underwhelming efficiency.
His evening was compounded when Joao Pedro changed him halfway via the second half and wrapped up the victory with a medical end late on.
Estevao epitomised the freshness Chelsea managed to play with, exhibiting no signal of a Membership World Cup hangover regardless of ending final season simply 26 days earlier than this fixture.
That they had solely returned to coaching on Monday, but appeared sharper than Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen and dominated their guests, who started pre-season on July 7 and had already performed 4 matches this summer time.
Enzo Maresca’s facet picked up from the place they left off with their flowing soccer that had dismantled Paris Saint-Germain within the Membership World Cup last.
Estevao impressed right away, hugging the best touchline, earlier than delivering after Cole Palmer’s lob had come again off the crossbar.
Cole Palmer linked up properly with Chelsea teen Estevao
Delap was then denied by Leverkusen’s Mark Flekken, having side-footed an earlier probability straight on the former Brentford goalkeeper.
Delap’s efficiency was the one destructive for the Blues on the evening after they had been lucky to flee a critical damage to Palmer as former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah caught his left leg with a reckless sliding deal with from behind.
Palmer was already linking properly with Estevao, who was denied a second late within the first half by save from Flekken.
Chelsea followers additionally noticed their newest signing Jorell Hato in motion when he got here on at half-time to switch Marc Cucurella at left-back. The £38.5m signing from Ajax appeared assured on the ball and fired a shot broad late on.
Josh Acheampong auditioned at centre-back in a bid to switch the injured Levi Colwill, however he was bailed out after falling over the ball by substitute Tosin, who made a vital block to forestall a Leverkusen equaliser.
Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen on his first look at Stamford Bridge
Jamie Gittens was one other winger and new signing who shone, coming off the bench within the second half and establishing Estevao on the finish of a direct dribble.
Joao Pedro, although, had the ultimate say, burying a shot into the underside left nook with the final kick of the match.
Chelsea face AC Milan on Sunday in one other pleasant earlier than internet hosting Crystal Palace of their Premier League opener on Sunday August 17, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Maresca: Estevao is implausible
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca talking to Channel 5:
“Very happy with the performance, especially after three or four days of training. It is good to start again.
“We’ve got one other sport Sunday after which it’s the official sport. We’ve got began like we didn’t end.”
On the debut of Estevao: “He’s very younger. He must play and for certain, he’s going to assist. He’s a implausible participant.”
On keeping the entire squad happy: “Not all of them shall be pleased at all times. They’ve to grasp they’re all good. There shall be many rotations.”
On Levi Colwill’s injury: “It’s a precedence for me, sure. Levi is a implausible participant; what we achieved final season was due to him.
“He played all games and I love him. We are going to miss him. We are trying to find different solutions. We will see [signing a defender].”
Dynamite debut from Estevao
Debuts don’t get a lot better than Estevao’s.
Anticipation and pleasure for the 18-year-old expertise was already excessive heading into this fixture, however he exceeded all expectations in his first look in a Chelsea shirt.
From minute one, Estevao dazzled together with his potential on the ball and confidence when driving at defenders.
A pure chemistry with star-man Palmer was clear to see from kick-off and it will definitely paid dividends when the Brazil worldwide swept dwelling the opener.
Carving a manner into this Chelsea beginning line-up will not be a straightforward activity, however this efficiency could have put the younger winger firmly in rivalry for a beginning function in opposition to Crystal Palace within the Blues’ Premier League opener.
Patrick Rowe
Joao Pedro wins first spherical in striker struggle with Delap
Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea through the 2-0 win in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen in pre-season
Liam Delap’s bid to turn into Chelsea’s first-choice striker had began effectively earlier than the evening had begun with the information of Jackson’s absence, however it ended with him on the again foot.
Delap would have been buoyed by being handed his first begin at Stamford Bridge, but after quarter-hour, he had only one contact.
Together with his second, he despatched a shot straight at Flekken, who then made his greatest save, spreading himself to disclaim Delap’s poked effort at aim.
Delap’s motion in behind, to latch onto Tyrique George’s curling cross, was faultless, however he needed to rating. Two pictures, each heading in the right direction, each huge probabilities missed.
Joao Pedro then confirmed him how one can do it. He composed himself within the space earlier than clinically sending an effort into the underside left nook to offer himself the benefit. The battle recommences on Sunday.
David Richardson
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games from subsequent season
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games this season
From this season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to at the least 215 video games solely reside.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games this season are on Sky Sports activities.
