Chelsea’s summer preparations are officially underway, and the Blues wasted no time showing they mean business.
Their first pre-season friendly of the summer came against Bayern Leverkusen on Friday evening at Stamford Bridge, just a week before the Premier League season kicks off.
Comfortable Win for Chelsea as They Build Momentum
The match ended in a solid 2-0 victory for Chelsea under new manager Enzo Maresca, thanks to goals from Estevao and Joao Pedro.
With confidence high after lifting the Club World Cup earlier this summer, the Blues now turn their attention to another tough test against AC Milan on Sunday.
Familiar Faces on the Opposing Side
Bayern Leverkusen brought some recognizable talent to the field, including former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and ex-Southampton and Burnley winger Nathan Tella.
But the player who stood out most to Premier League fans was former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, who joined Leverkusen this summer in a £35 million deal.
Tensions Flare Between Quansah and Cole Palmer
The game wasn’t without drama. At one point, Quansah and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer clashed following a heavy tackle that raised some eyebrows.
Palmer had just received the ball in midfield when Quansah pressed hard, sensing a chance to win possession.
Palmer managed to get to the ball first and tried to keep the attack going, but Quansah slid in with a strong challenge.
Palmer immediately reacted in pain, falling to the turf as the referee blew the whistle.
A Mini-Scuffle Breaks Out on the Field
As they both got back up, Palmer appeared upset and grabbed Quansah’s back from behind.
The former Liverpool man didn’t take kindly to this and pushed Palmer away while Palmer clung onto his shirt.
Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation.
Quansah, who has recently been involved in England squads under managers Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate, received a yellow card for the incident.
Chelsea’s Season Opener Just Days Away
With the Premier League season opener against Crystal Palace looming next Sunday, Chelsea will hope to keep their momentum going after a promising friendly.
Although the squad only returned to pre-season training last week, Friday’s convincing win over a strong Bundesliga side should give fans plenty to be optimistic about.