Chelsea's pre-season under new manager Enzo Maresca got off to a fantastic start with a confident 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Despite a short holiday break, the Blues looked sharp and ready for the season ahead.
Maresca's New Look and the Brazilian Wonderboy
Maresca fielded a dynamic lineup that blended experienced first-team players with exciting new talent. The midfield was controlled by the strong pairing of Moisés Caicedo and Andrey Santos, while the attack was led by Cole Palmer and the highly anticipated new signing, Estêvão.
The Brazilian teenager didn't take long to make his mark. Less than 20 minutes into his first pre-season match, Estêvão was in the right place at the right time to score a rebound, opening his Chelsea account and giving fans a taste of what's to come. The first half was dominated by Chelsea's fluid, attacking football, with goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen having little to do.
Second-Half Substitutions and a Late Goal
Maresca began making changes in the second half to give more players valuable minutes, which slightly affected the team's flow. However, young forward Jamie Gittens made a strong impression, creating a consistent threat down the left side.
With time running out, João Pedro sealed the victory with an excellent finish, making it 2-0 and putting the perfect finishing touch on the performance.
It was a promising first outing for the new-look Chelsea squad, with Jörgensen as the only player to complete the full 90 minutes. Notable players like Nkunku and Jackson were not in the squad. Chelsea will now turn their attention to their next friendly against AC Milan.
Key Players:
Estêvão: Scored the opening goal on his pre-season debut.
Cole Palmer: Pulled the strings in the attack.
Moisés Caicedo & Andrey Santos: Controlled the midfield.
João Pedro: Scored the final goal to secure the win.
This performance gives Chelsea fans plenty of reason to be optimistic as the new season quickly approaches. KTBFFH.
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