KENEDY KICKSTART
Brazilian’s off mark as Batshuayi hits three
Little has been seen of Kenedy since the Brazilian was sent home in disgrace from Chelsea’ s pre- season tour in China after insulting the world’s most populous nation.
He has been lying low since offensive posts on social media which included a photograph of a sleeping security guard with the message: ‘Wake up China, you idiot.’
last night, he stirred and caught Nottingham Forest napping, opened the scoring in his first game of the season to set Chelsea on course for a date with everton in the Carabao Cup last 16.
Charly Musonda also celebrated his full debut with a goal and Michy Batshuayi claimed the match ball after a hat-trick which owed much to the skill of others.
two of Batshuayi’s goals were created by the outstanding eden Hazard. the third was a Kenedy shot which rebounded off the bar and hit the striker in the chest before bouncing into the goal.
Forest pulled one back with the last kick of the tie, an untidy goal converted by substitute tendayi Darikwa, but this was every bit as comfortable as the result might suggest for the Premier league champions and another triumph for the squad rotation policy of Antonio Conte.
the Chelsea boss made nine changes from Sunday’s goalless draw against Arsenal and sent on three teenagers from the bench when the game was won. Among them was 17-year- old midfielder ethan Ampadu, the first player born in this millennium to represent the club.
‘it is very positive for us,’ said Conte. ‘i gave the chance to the young players from our academy and the answer was very good. i hope this can improve their confidence.’
Chelsea were in control from the 13th minute when Kenedy scored his first goal for 18 months, tucking away Antonio Rudiger’s cross.
‘Kenedy played very well,’ said Conte, but the manager failed to acknowledge questions about the pre-season episode in China. ‘He’s working very well, improving. He has to continue. When there is the opportunity he must exploit it.’
Forest flickered briefly after Batshuayi stabbed in the second. Kieran Dowell hit the bar with a free-kick but the visitors from the Championship slipped three behind when Musonda drove a shot low under goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.
Hazard hit a post, early in the second half, and created the fourth for Batshuayi with a burst clear on to a ball from Cesc Fabregas and a dummy which took the keeper out of the game.
Chelsea eased through to the final whistle and Batshuayi seemed slightly embarrassed to complete his treble in bizarre style. ‘You can’t concede soft goals,’ said Forest boss Mark Warburton. ‘Against really good players we were too soft at times. We took liberties on the edge of our own box and got punished.’