Chelsea secured a 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge, with Joao Pedro scoring twice, but the match was overshadowed by a mixed fan reaction to Enzo Fernandez.
Fernandez sparks fan battle
Fernandez returned to the Chelsea squad this week and was named on the bench after the Blues' Friday deadline for interested clubs to bid for him passed without any offers. When his name was read out before the warm-up, there were a smattering of boos.
More revealing was the reaction when he came on just after the hour mark and took the captain's armband. There were loud jeers as he entered the pitch and again every time he touched the ball for the next few minutes, but there were also plenty in the crowd who tried to drown that out by chanting Fernandez's name.
Fernandez headed just over from a corner during the clash. The hydration break five minutes later brought a reset, and there was no real reaction when Fernandez was in possession after play resumed.
Joao Pedro takes baton off Cole Palmer
Joao Pedro netted a brace to take his tally for the summer to eight goals in seven matches, including Chelsea's behind-closed-doors friendly. He could have had a hat-trick, with his header well saved but leaving Morgan Rogers with a tap-in for Chelsea's opener.
Rogers and Joao Pedro already look to be developing a promising partnership, combining nicely and twice flashing balls across the face of goal. Cole Palmer was very quiet once again in this match.
Chelsea set for hectic end to window
The team sheet offered a reminder of how much work Chelsea have to do before the transfer window shuts. There were 13 players on the bench and still a whole host of first-team players did not make the squad.
Mykahilo Mudryk, Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo, Nicolas Jackson and Mamadou Sarr were all left out as Chelsea look to find moves for them this summer. Pedro Neto, starting on the right at wing-back, could also still leave in the next two and a half weeks.
Further evidence of the size of this Chelsea squad came with a glance at those sitting on the row behind Chelsea's substitutes. Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson were joined by Aaron Anselmino and Emmanuel Emegha, with none of that quartet making the 24-man matchday squad.
