St Patrick’s 0-4 Chelsea, Friendly: Post-match reaction

A straightforward and dominant 4-0 win — first half XI again better than the second-half XI — over St Patrick’s Athletic who fielded a largely reserves side due to their Europa League qualifying round commitments on the Thursday before and after this game. That unfortunately meant that former Chelsea prospect Conor Clifford only got to make a half-time interview appearance.

As on Wednesday, the primary goal was to gain fitness and get some distance into the legs. The quality of the opposition was one that should’ve never troubled Chelsea, and they largely did not. Chelsea could’ve/should’ve put up a large crooked number in the first-half alone.

Job done.

Drinkwater, Ampadu, Maatsen, Kanté, and Arrizabalaga the 5 of the 27 in camp not to take part today.

Chelsea now head home to London for a couple days off before flying out to Japan on Monday afternoon.

KTBFFH.

FIRST HALF (4<4>2):
Caballero | Emerson, David Luiz (c), Tomori, Zappacosta | Jorginho, Kovačić, Mount, Barkley | Batshuayi, Abraham

• Nice to see yet another new formation, especially with two strikers up top. Abraham played the big man role most of the time.
• Batshuayi, Barkley both hit the woodwork, with goalkeeper Murphy making several excellent saves as well.
• Good tempo, great pressing. The trio of youngsters, Tomori, Mount, Tammy all doing no harm to their first-team chances.
• Kovacic with several excellent through balls; Jorginho doing well in the defensive “holding” role; Mount all-action; Barkley a bit quiet in the four-man midfield.
• Zappacosta the furthest off the pace, giving the ball away three times in quick succession at one point.

SECOND HALF (4-2-3-1):
Cumming | Alonso, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c) | Gilmour, Bakayoko | Kenedy, Palmer, Pedro | Giroud

• Great start, then a bit of a lull, then the third goal. It’s not easy to keep a high effort going against clearly inferior and tiring opposition, in fairness.
• Giroud finishing on point already.
• Bakayoko the furthest off the pace in this half. Improvement needed.
• Palmer once again full of effort in the press; Gilmour running the midfield; Giroud doing his lone striker bit just fine.
• Clean sheet!