Chelsea 6-4 Western Sydney Wanderers: Five key takeaways from Pre-Season Friendly

Xabi Alonso’s era with the Blues kicks off positively.

The English Premier League club Chelsea went head-to-head against the A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers in what was a friendly clash. This contest took place at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

The Blues were pushed to their limits. A lot of young players started for the EPL club and many renowned names were on the bench. It was a high-scoring contest, but in the end, Chelsea FC stood tall with a 6-4 victory.

Western Sydney Wanderers did not back down till the final moments of the game and their fighting spirit was quite commendable against a top-tier team. Xabi Alonso’s tactics were deployed to its full potential after Chelsea came up with multiple changes in the squad after 60 minutes.

Also Read: Why did Enzo Fernandez & Reece James miss Chelsea vs Western Sydney Wanderers pre-season friendly?

Important things we learned from this match:

1. Chelsea’s defensive problem continues

The Blues were very vulnerable in defence. Most of the youngsters started for the Premier League side and they conceded three goals. It was a poor show for Chelsea in defence, which they improved later in the game. Xabi Alonso must look into this, or it is going to be one of the major problems for the club during the upcoming season.

2. Impactless Liam Delap

The 23-year-old was the first-choice striker for Chelsea’s new manager, Xabi Alonso. He underperformed for his side. Liam Delap missed out on crucial chances, which put the Blues under some pressure. The English forward must look to step up his game. Delap only scored 1 goal in the Premier League last season and will be looking to perform better this time around.

3. Young Chelsea stars with valuable minutes

Xabi Alonso trusted the young guns of Chelsea for his unofficial debut for the club. They were not quite able to impress with their defence, but their performance in the final third was quite noticeable. The 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev and the 21-year-old Dário Essugo scored a goal each, which eventually helped Chelsea secure a win.

4. Joao Pedro’s brilliance off the bench

The 24-year-old came onto the pitch after the 60th-minute mark. He was the standout performer for the Blues. Joao Pedro first came up with a sensational assist to help Jamie Gittens score a goal. The Brazilian forward then scored three goals in just under 10 minutes to complete his hat-trick.

5. Western Sydney Wanderers’ showcase of quality

The A-League side might have faced a defeat here, but they pushed the Premier League club Chelsea to their absolute limits. Western Sydney Wanderers surely have quality in the final third, but need heavy improvements in defence.

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