Chelsea rounded off their truncated pre-season preparations with an emphatic 4-1 win over 10-man AC Milan at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ 2024/25 marketing campaign completed with the Membership World Cup last solely 28 days earlier and their second pleasant got here simply 48 hours after the primary, a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
An personal aim from Andrei Coubis, two from Liam Delap and one from Joao Pedro sealed a powerful victory for Enzo Maresca’s facet.
There was concern, nevertheless, for defender Trevoh Chalobah, who rolled his ankle early within the second half, significantly given the Blues lately noticed Levi Colwill maintain an ACL damage.
Chatting with 5 after the sport, nevertheless, Maresca stated there was no subject with Chalobah, which recommended his substitution was precautionary reasonably than the rest.
Of their last pleasant earlier than the Premier League opener towards Crystal Palace – which is dwell on Sky Sports activities subsequent Sunday – there was no signal of any fatigue for the Blues.
Sunday seventeenth August 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
Reece James’ free-kick hit the toes of Coubis and crossed the road earlier than he had time to do something about it and, inside two minutes, Joao Pedro misplaced his marker and nodded Pedro Neto’s curling ball dwelling with ease.
It acquired worse for Milan when Coubis was deservedly proven a straight crimson card on 18 minutes after clumsily hauling Joao Pedro down when he was by means of on aim.
Joao Pedro celebrates with team-mate Pedro Neto after scoring Chelsea’s second aim towards AC Milan
With the guests providing little or no, Chelsea in all probability may have added extra earlier than the break; Cole Palmer hit the put up with one free-kick, noticed one other effort go inches extensive, then despatched a scissor-kick volley throughout the face of aim. As a substitute, they slowed the play down and conserved power within the newest UK heatwave.
And to sum up a largely forgettable first half, the Serie A giants had a tidy Rafael Leao header dominated out for offside within the construct up.
Shortly after Chalobah’s aforementioned exit, substitute Estevao Willian gained a penalty after being bundled over, which Liam Delap hammered low to goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s proper.
The lead was rapidly decreased to 2 once more, although, as Youssouf Fofana beat Robert Sanchez at his close to put up to provide the travelling Milan contingent one thing to shout about.
However Chelsea confirmed they’re able to hit the bottom working subsequent week when Delap scored his second with a scientific first-time end after Andrey Santos’ luxurious go to tee him up.
Joao Pedro: I am glad for Delap!
Chelsea ahead Joao Pedro chatting with Channel 5:
“I am very happy to score at Stamford Bridge. I think I enjoyed this pre-season, two goals in two games. Now, we need to rest and start well in the Premier League.”
Requested about applauding the objectives by Liam Delap and the competitors between them:
“I don’t want to say competition, I think it is very good for Chelsea to have both strikers at a good level. In the last game, he did not score. Today, he scored two goals. I am very happy for him.”
VOTE: Who ought to begin 2025/26 up entrance for Chelsea?
James: Everybody is worked up
Chelsea captain Reece James chatting with 5:
“It is always a sign when you lift a trophy. We finished last season really strong with two trophies. It is a good feeling at the moment.
“We’re assured. We’re world champions. We now have had a extremely tough interval within the final two years and we now have come a great distance. This season, everybody is worked up. We’re in an excellent place.”
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 dwell Premier League video games from this season
From this season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to a minimum of 215 video games solely dwell.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games this season are on Sky Sports activities.
