Estêvão wow as Delap and João Pedro state cases to lead Chelsea line

Times

3 days ago

Chelsea played their final pre-season game on Sunday, with several new faces impressing in a 4-1 win against AC Milan at Stamford Bridge. Having returned from their Club World Cup triumph in the United States last month, Chelsea were playing only their second warm-up match, after beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Friday, and this is what we learnt:
Enzo Maresca said on Friday that bringing in a new centre half was a 'priority' after the news that Colwill is likely to be out of action for the rest of the year, having had surgery on a knee. However, this weekend's fixtures have enabled the head coach to assess the options at his disposal.
On Sunday he opted for a partnership of Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah, who fared well coping with sporadic Milan attacks, especially Adarabioyo, who recovered well twice with last-ditch tackles.
There was cause for concern, though, when Chalobah limped off just before the hour mark with an ankle injury. After landing awkwardly in a challenge, the centre back played on for four minutes before being substituted for 19-year-old Josh Acheampong. Chalobah left the field unaided and was walking less gingerly after the final whistle.
João Pedro impressed again as he picked up his fifth goal in his past four games for Chelsea. He headed home Pedro Neto's cross from close range in the opening ten minutes to put his side 2-0 up after an own goal from the centre back Andrei Coubis had given them the lead in the fifth minute.
Thirteen minutes later João Pedro went through on goal and grappled with Coubis, who was sent off for pulling the striker to the ground.
Battling for a starting place up front is fellow new arrival Liam Delap, who scored twice in a 30-minute cameo. His first came from the penalty spot, before he struck an instinctive first-time finish into the far corner of the net.
'I don't want to say it's a competition,' João Pedro said when asked about his and Delap's performances. 'It's very good for Chelsea to have both strikers of a good level. Last game he didn't score but today he scored two goals and I'm very happy for him.'
The excellent starts made by the duo have contributed to Nicolas Jackson falling out of favour. The Senegal striker was absent from the squad again after reaching an agreement with the club in the week that he can leave.
Estêvão, 18, has already become a fan favourite despite featuring only twice since his arrival from Palmeiras. The cheer from the home fans when the Brazil winger's name was announced was notably loud.
Initially he replaced Cole Palmer in the centre and soon won the penalty that was dispatched by Delap. He was eventually moved out to his more natural role on the right and almost got on the scoresheet when he cut in and fired with his left foot to force a full-stretch save from Mike Maignan.
Jamie Gittens's impact was more understated on the left on his first start, but he did play a part in the first goal by winning a free kick deep into the Milan half that led to Coubis's own goal.
The winger, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund, found space in dangerous areas but frequently struggled to find the target.
'Most of them are on the scoresheet today. They have started well,' Reece James, the Chelsea captain, said of the new arrivals. 'They are very talented boys and great additions to the team.'