Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen travelled all the best way from England to Australia, solely to return residence after three days in Sydney as a result of he’s in line to go away the membership, most probably for BlueCo sister facet Strasbourg.
Liam Delap has not been despatched residence, although the striker might be bought this summer season to make means for Danny Welbeck, 35. Nottingham Forest are amongst Delap’s admirers, although the 23-year-old’s inclusion in Xabi Alonso’s beginning line-up within the 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers recommended no transfer is imminent.
If this was an opportunity for Delap to persuade Alonso that he ought to veto any change which can crop up, he didn’t take it. The £30million signing from Ipswich final summer season was upstaged by Chelsea’s different attackers on this pleasant, and never least the person who changed him in Joao Pedro.
Delap took his seat within the dugout after an hour, and the distinction between him main the road and Joao Pedro was stark. The 24-year-old Brazilian simply regarded a stage above.
Within the 66th minute, he produced a elegant help for Jamie Gittens after squirming his means into the field. Within the eightieth, he scored his first aim. Within the eighty fifth, he scored his second. Within the 89th, he confirmed his hat-trick.
It’s no marvel Chelsea let it’s identified early on this summer season that Joao Pedro is taken into account untouchable. In fact Barcelona like him. Each membership in Europe ought to take into account him an enchancment on what they have already got. That’s solely pure. However he’s going nowhere – whereas Delap could be.
Joao Pedro ran the sport after approaching within the 66th minute
Liam Delap took his seat within the dugout after an hour, and the distinction between him main the road and Joao Pedro was stark
Teen goals
Two 17-year-olds in Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Dastan Satpayev mixed for the primary of Chelsea’s six targets right here.
It concerned a beautiful flip and through-ball from Kavuma-McQueen for Satpayev, whose end was scientific after breaking behind.
Satpayev is technically not a Chelsea participant till he turns 18 subsequent month, however he was concerned right here as a ‘trialist’, with permission from his membership FC Kairat in Kazakhstan and authorisation from his mother and father.
Reggie Walsh, 17, impressed at No 10 as he exchanged a one-two with Dario Essugo for Chelsea’s second aim. Landon Emenalo, 18, was flying down the flank from left again additionally.
This was alternative for the youngsters, and the very best of the bunch, in my view, was Reggie Watson. Nonetheless solely 16 and the son of former Wigan midfielder Ben, Watson was a bodily pressure in midfield.
When Alonso made 9 substitutes after an hour, he was the one starter who remained on the pitch, and it’s straightforward to see why Chelsea are so excited by this teenager.
Nonetheless solely 16 and the son of former Wigan midfielder Ben, Reggie Watson was a bodily pressure in midfield
Dastan Satpayev is technically not a Chelsea participant till he turns 18 subsequent month, however he was concerned right here as a ‘trialist’
Gittens will get again on the bike
Gittens had a tough 2025-26. His season was primarily a write-off from January, when he picked up a hamstring downside.
But he has now scored in three successive friendlies beneath Alonso – of their behind-closed-doors wins over Crawley and Bromley again in London and right here in opposition to Western Sydney Wanderers.
We may see the arrogance coursing via the left winger. Hopefully for him and Chelsea, this 21-year-old Englishman can stay wholesome and revel in a happier marketing campaign.
Jamie Gittens (proper) fires in Chelsea’s third aim in Sydney
Wanderers provide stern take a look at
Wanderers completed backside of the 2025–26 A-League desk, so that they weren’t anticipated to pose many issues to Chelsea, even with so many kids concerned.
But it was probably useful for Alonso that the Australian facet pressed excessive all through. That examined Chelsea’s defenders, and their centre-back pairing of Tosin Adarabioyo, 28, and Josh Acheampong, 20, not often regarded snug in possession. Too many passes went straight to the ft of their opponents, who discovered scoring somewhat easy.
Acheampong was overwhelmed too simply when Wanderers scored their second aim, for instance. Aydan Hammond skinned the younger central defender earlier than stroking the ball past Teddy Sharman-Lowe in aim.
Heaps to work on, Austin
Chelsea may do with Austin MacPhee arriving from Aston Villa to turn into their new set-piece specialist sooner somewhat than later. Wanderers appeared a risk from dead-ball conditions, scoring at one nook which was flicked on from the entrance and nodded in by Anthony Pantazopoulos on the again.
