Three winners and three losers from Chelsea’s clash with AC Milan
Chelsea players were fighting to impress manager Enzo Maresca in their pre-season win over AC Milan as the start of the Premier League season looms.
The Blues dispatched 10-man AC Milan 4-1 at Stamford Bridge after beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home earlier in the week.
Maresca still has decisions to make in his starting XI before Chelsea host Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener.
Three players impressed the manager whilst there were also three losers from the contest.
Winners – Delap makes a mark amid Pedro scoring spree
Liam Delap
Despite starting the match as a substitute, Liam Delap made an impact when he stepped onto the pitch.
Chelsea’s summer signing confidently dispatched a penalty before sweeping home from inside the penalty area with one of the last actions of the game.
Those goals will have been a relief to the 22-year-old as he has been watching fellow striker Joao Pedro net five goals in his first five games for the club.
Joao Pedro
Delap though will still find himself behind Pedro in the pecking order after his own successful outing against AC Milan.
Pedro continued his fine form with a well-controlled close-range finish before he forced Andrei Coubis into a red card when he was through on goal.
Maresca will have to find a way to keep both striker’s happy at the club, but Pedro is guaranteed to be starting against Palace.
Estevao
A fine second half cameo from 18-year-old Estevao, whose flair wowed the Chelsea support and showed Maresca what quality he has at his disposal.
The Brazilian controlled the show when he came on, winning the penalty for Delap to score and forcing the visiting goalkeeper into a smart low save.
Signed from Palmeiras this summer, Estevao will be eyeing up minutes in the first team, and on this display he may force Maresca to hand him some starts.
Losers – Chalobah injury worries Maresca
Trevoh Chalobah
In a cruel blow to Trevoh Chalobah, the defender was forced off injured during the second half of the match.
Chalobah was seen gingerly walking off the pitch, which will concern Maresca after he’s already lost Levi Colwill to a long-term injury.
New signing Jorrel Hato will have to bed into the side even quicker than anticipated and Tosin Adarabiyo may become an even more crucial player in Chelsea’s defence.
Jamie Gittens
Whilst Pedro Neto played well on the right flank, Jamie Gittens struggled to make an impact down the left.
The 21-year-old was often wasteful with his final ball and in his decision making.
As per Fotmob, Gittens created just one chance, didn’t have a shot on target, touched the ball just 32 times and was dispossessed three times in his 73 minutes on the pitch.
Gittens will need to improve those stats otherwise players like Estevao will be waiting to take his place.
Robert Sanchez
The goalkeeper did not have much to do throughout the match, but Robert Sanchez was beaten at his near post for the AC Milan goal.
Sanchez should have covered his near post to greater effect and saved the effort.
The Spaniard faced criticism for his performances last season and Chelsea have been looking at a new goalkeeper this summer, so Sanchez is under pressure in-between the sticks.