RZ Pellets 0 Chelsea 3: Bertrand Traore, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah give the Blues triple joy
CHELSEA turned their pre-season around with a 3-0 win against Austrian club RZ Pellets.
The visitors took the lead through a neat Willian cross, which had two players skidding in for a tap-in.
Bertrand Traore reacted best and scored, but only after a deflection from the keeper.
The Blues had an effort blocked off the line when Michy Batshuayi rounded the keeper, but was woefully short of a left foot.
So he squared it back to Victor Moses, whose effort was cleared off the line, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored with a neat header from Moses' corner late-on.
But the Blues saved their best for last as Nathaniel Chalobah tricked his way to an opening and a neat finish for 3-0.
BARE BONES
- Conte made three changes from the 2-0 loss to Rapid Vienna. Brazil ace Oscar made his first start of pre-season while he also brought in Traore up front and Ola Aina.
- Moses started again and was a threat. His fine cross early doors should have been exploited by Willian, who air kicked a bicycle effort from close range and also set up a missed chance for Traore.
- RZ Pellets picked an odd venue to stage this game … playing it 40 miles away from their home in Klagensfurt. The ground was more than two thirds EMPTY. Would have surely been better to play it at a smaller venue for more atmosphere?
Related Articles
- Traore did not do himself any favours in impressing Conte by missing an absolute sitter from six yards after being teed up by Moses – and did his best to miss before eventually scoring in the 40th minute.
- Surprised if Italian coach Conte does not have a sore throat this morning. He was yelling at his team throughout the entire 90 minutes. He was louder than the sparse crowd in the stadium. “Go”, “Yes”, “Give” and “Hey” seemed to be his favourite instructions.
- Chelsea's defence really does need sorting. A better team would have punished them last night. Poachim Standfest had a golden chance but shot wide.
- Hardly a night for Chelsea fans to sing: “Who the f*** are Man United.” It was an unconvincing performance from the Blues, who would have been punished by a better side.
- Conte's men look genuinely leggy so far – and this is probably down to their grueling double training sessions at their camp in Velden. Form and fitness is better judged when they visit the States.
- Batshuayi almost made a dream debut with his first couple of touches. Coming on as a 58th-minute sub, he ran on to Loftus-Cheek’s pass, drove forward before seeing his shot deflected over.
- Loftus-Cheek powerfully headed home Moses' 84th-minute corner to seal victory, it was a well-worked routine.
Chelsea's upcoming fixtures
PRE-SEASON
Liverpool (Rose Bowl, CA, USA) - July 28
Real Madrid (Michigan USA) - July 30
AC Milan (Minneapolis, USA) - August 4
Werder Bremen (Bremen) - August 7
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham (h) - August 15
Watford (a) - August 20
Burnley (h) - August 27
Swansea (a) - September 11
Liverpool (h) - September 16
Arsenal (a) - September 24
SOCIAL SAYS
WHAT THEY SAID
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: “Batshuayi is a young player but he has great potential for me. Technique, great talent and also very fast.
“We must improve and we will work very hard to improve. I know that these players have the right attitude to do this.”