Chelsea supporters were divided as Enzo Fernandez returned to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Friday’s 5pm deadline for clubs to make a £120million offer for the Argentine international passed without a bid.
There were perhaps expected boos when his name was read out before kick-off, with the World Cup runner-up starting on the bench.
But the atmosphere turned bizarre when he was introduced after an hour, with sections of the crowd booing him while others proudly sang his name. That continued when he had the ball in midfield, too, with disgruntled boos followed by encouraging chants.
Fernandez, who replaced Reece James and wore the captain’s armband for the final 30 minutes, has been stuck in a complicated situation at Chelsea since he alerted the world in March that he dreams of playing for Real Madrid. Then-manager Liam Rosenior took umbrage and dropped him for two games in response.
Enzo Fernandes was both booed and serenaded by Chelsea fans on his Stamford Bridge return
The feeling this summer has been that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge, but his options are limited by few clubs having the financial capacity to meet Chelsea’s valuation.
Manchester City were the front-runners, but Chelsea set suitors an unofficial deadline of 5pm Friday to make a sufficient offer as they want their squad fixed before their season opener against Fulham on August 24.
Although that deadline passed without an offer, it remains to be seen if a £120m bid between now and September 1 would test their resolve. What is for sure, though, is that Chelsea supporters do not know how to feel about it.
Fernandez was unaffected by his contradictory reception, looking comfortable in midfield as he earned his first minutes since returning from the World Cup.
The Matthew Harding stand became a supportive chorus in the 90th minute, chanting and applauding when he took a free-kick near the corner flag which looped over the bar.
Peerless Pedro
With the pantomime out of the way, the picture is much more encouraging on the pitch after Joao Pedro put Premier League defenders on notice.
The forward, with fire blazing in his belly after Carlo Ancelotti snubbed him for Brazil’s World Cup squad, wrapped up pre-season with eight goals in seven games, scoring twice as Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in their final match before the curtain-raiser against Fulham. He was by far the best player in Chelsea’s pre-season campaign.
It is no surprise after a stellar first season at Chelsea, in which he scored 20 goals in 50 games despite the West London club’s subpar league campaign. But the 24-year-old has looked even brighter under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Joao Pedro scored twice in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly
The tightness of the front three in Alonso’s 3-4-3 allows Pedro to showcase the best elements of his game, both linking up play, using his blistering pace to run in behind and constantly looking for the ball in the penalty area.
A timely cross from James found Pedro at the far post as he scored Chelsea’s second of the afternoon, burying his header past the near post. His second was trademark Pedro, latching on to a ball in behind from Malo Gusto and drilling a low shot with his right foot.
Pedro was lively, eager to get going and better last season’s efforts. Chelsea’s frontline looks lethal with Morgan Rogers joining him alongside Cole Palmer.
Rogers off the mark
Chelsea’s £117m marquee summer signing Morgan Rogers could not have wished for a better start to life at his new club, scoring inside 10 minutes.
Rogers lined up on the left of Chelsea’s front three and showed laser-sharp reactions to pounce on Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro. The Spaniard initially denied Pedro inside the box, but could do little to prevent Rogers from tapping home the rebound from a couple of yards out.
Morgan Rogers made a good first impression in front of his new fans at Stamford Bridge
The British record transfer holder played 62 minutes, having only joined Chelsea training this week after spending the summer at the World Cup with England.
He showcased his ball-carrying ability just minutes after putting Chelsea ahead, driving forward to create another chance for Pedro, who was denied by a fine stop from Remiro.
Alonso commits to back three
Xabi Alonso appears to have settled on the back-three formation that served him well at Bayer Leverkusen, using the system in consecutive first-team games after initially leaking goals with a back four.
Alonso debuted the system against AC Milan last week, as Chelsea kept their only clean sheet of pre-season. And while they conceded once against Real Sociedad, a wonderful strike from outside of the box by Jon Aramburu, the set-up offers more defensive stability than a back four.
Xabi Alonso was given a warm welcome by Chelsea supporters pre-match – they even sung his name midway through the first half
With Maxence Lacroix now integrated into the squad, the centre-back trio Alonso is likely to start against Fulham appears clear. Lacroix joined from Crystal Palace, where he played in the centre of a back three.
Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill flanked Lacroix against Real Sociedad, making for an imposing trio. Chelsea’s backline lacked physicality at times last season – Lacroix’s physicality and pace could help address that weakness.
Marco Palestra has been efficient at left wing-back, getting up and down the line. Pedro Neto, however, could become a problem on the opposite side with the Portuguese winger lacking offensive prowess.
Missing men
There was an extensive list of absentees for Chelsea’s final pre-season outing, with new signings Danny Welbeck, Emmanuel Emegha and Jordan Henderson among those not involved.
Henderson had surgery at the World Cup after a freakish injury celebrating England’s win against Mexico at the Azteca, tumbling over the advertising hoarding and fracturing his wrist and arm. Although his match fitness is unclear, he has partaken in Chelsea training this week after arriving from Brentford.
Danny Welbeck topped the list of absentees for Chelsea’s final pre-season match
Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson – all of whom could depart before the transfer window closes in 16 days – were not involved. Could that, perhaps, indicate they are not part of Alonso’s plans?
