New signings Liam Dellup (2) and João Pedro both found the net as Chelsea triumphed over AC Milan with a score of 4-1 in their final preseason game before the 2025-26 season kicks off.
Andrei Coubis opened the scoring for Chelsea just five minutes into the match with an own goal. Shortly after, João Pedro, a £60 million ($80 million) acquisition from Brighton & Hove Albion, netted his fifth goal in as many matches for his new team just two minutes later.
Coubis received a red card 18 minutes later, having been the last defender on a Chelsea striker.
Delap came on in place of João Pedro an hour into the game and converted a penalty seven minutes later, marking his second goal of the match after Youssouf Fofana had scored a consolation goal for the Serie A side.
Chelsea quickly took control of the match against their Italian rivals, scoring twice in the first seven minutes. Although Cole Palmer missed a free kick attempt soon after, the team then added a third goal.
Following the red card incident, Chelsea continued to dominate but couldn’t add to their tally before halftime.
Luka Modric made his AC Milan debut after transferring from Real Madrid, coming on at halftime.
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Enzo Maresca had concerns regarding Trevo Chalobah, especially after Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury in training last week.
Chalobah was replaced by young talent Josh Achempon, who soon joined Dellup and Estevan, the latter of whom scored during his debut with Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night.
Just six minutes later, the Brazilian winger troubled the defense again, winning a penalty after being fouled at the back post.
Fofana later scored for Milan, giving Massimiliano Allegri’s side something to take away from the match.
With standout performances from both summer signings from Brighton and Ipswich, Maresca has plenty to consider as the Premier League season approaches.
Chelsea will host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 17th, before heading to West Ham on August 22nd.
Fan Take: This decisive victory signals that Chelsea is gearing up for a strong season, powered by new talents like Dellup and João Pedro. For soccer fans, this means an exciting Premier League season ahead, as clubs strengthen their squads to compete at the highest level.
