Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia kicked off with a thrilling 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, featuring a nine-minute hat-trick from Joao Pedro.
Joao Pedro ready to be Alonso’s leading man
Introduced as a second-half substitute, the 24-year-old Brazilian made an immediate impact, bustling to the byline to set up Jamie Gittens before scoring three quick goals to turn the game. He drew Chelsea level after Western Sydney had made it 4-3, then raced onto Cole Palmer’s through ball to give the Blues the lead, and completed the treble from close range after a corner.
Joao Pedro is expected to be the side’s guiding light this season following a strong debut campaign. His futures of potential back-ups like Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu remain uncertain, while Xabi Alonso hopes the arrival of Joao Pedro’s former Brighton mentor Danny Welbeck can extract even more goals from the £60million man.
Defensive frailties show no signs of improvement
Alonso’s defence was exposed by Western Sydney Wanderers, with a young and inexperienced backline marshalled by understudy centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo struggling with difficult playing conditions. Chelsea were undone from a corner, lucky not to be punished for lackadaisical passing, and too tentative in response to an aggressive, transitional performance from the hosts.
The manager knows a reliable defence is crucial to his grand plans, but with uncertainty over centre-back options before the season starts, the task remains difficult.
Youngsters take their chance in trying conditions
The bobbly pitch at Sydney’s Accor Stadium made it tricky for Chelsea to play their passing game, but teenage midfielders Reggie Walsh and Reggie Watson impressed with their handling under pressure. Watson was the standout in the first half, confident in possession, while Walsh combined neat touches to play out of pressure and draw fouls. The academy pair made a strong impression as Chelsea put together flowing, attacking moves.
