MADE IN CHAL SEA
Dream debut in Prem for academy starlet Trevoh
IF this is Chelsea undercooked, without their big summer signing and three or four others who would normally be starters, then woe betide those who meet them when they are firing on all cylinders.
The champions of Europe did a proper number on Patrick Vieira (left) and his Crystal Palace side to put the seal on a successful first week of the season following their Super Cup victory on Wednesday.
Goals from Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic put the game to bed before half-time.
It was the third, however, that provided the moment of the match, 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah drilling home a fine finish on his Premier League debut, 14 years after joining the club.
It took a second or two for the penny to drop with the defender about what he had done. But when it did he clutched his face in disbelief and dropped to his knees before being mobbed by each and every one of his team-mates.
Chalobah said: “It is a dream for a boy like me being here, and to play for my home club is unreal.
“As I was getting closer to the goal, I thought I might as well shoot and just went for it. I didn’t know the ball went in until the crowd cheered. It was a surreal moment. I did not know what to do – I was over the moon.”
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: “The goal was well deserved.
“He’s a humble guy, a calm guy.
“This is not a gift that we let him play, it is well deserved.”
Chelsea took the lead shortly before the halfhour mark after Tyrick Mitchell
As I was getting closer I thought I might as well shoot and I didn’t know it went in until the crowd cheered. It was surreal.
brought down Mason Mount outside the Palace penalty area.
Alonso stepped up and wrapped his left boot round a delicious free-kick that left Vicente Guaita rooted to the spot.
Mount was heavily involved again when the home side doubled their advantage before halftime.
This time he played a quick give-and-go before whipping in a dangerous cross that Guaita parried at Timo Werner’s feet, with Pulisic on hand to turn the loose ball home. As for
Palace, Vieira will need to continue what has already been a busy summer of new arrivals in the next couple of weeks.
Vieira said: “If you look at the way we defended before the free-kick I was really pleased, we were compact, but the free-kick changed the game.”
Chelsea are set to welcome £97.5million new old boy Romelu Lukaku to training on Tuesday.
Asked if he saw his side as one of the title favourites, Tuchel added: “I see us as No.4. We are in the role of hunters.”