Chelsea got their first season campaign 2021/22 off to a perfect start when they beat League One’s Peterborough 6-1 on Saturday.
Thomas Tuchel gave plenty of minutes to returning borrowers and fringe players, but unfortunately there was no public stream of the game, so fans are still somewhat in the dark over what happened.
Fortunately, there have been some brief updates from those close to the club, so by sharing all the pieces, here’s what we learned from the game.
Back to it on a sunny Saturday at Cobham! ☀️
A hat trick for Hakim Ziyech in a 6-1 victory against @theposhofficial today! ? pic.twitter.com/Gid04syXOl
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 17, 2021
Hakim Ziyech has seen his name thrown into many transfer rumors this summer, with reports suggesting that his time at Chelsea may already be out.
No matter what happens behind the scenes, it obviously does not affect the Moroccan on the pitch.
A second trick from Ziyech will have had a significant impact on Tuchel, who will have been relieved to see the 28-year-old dominate in a match like this.
With Olivier Giroud now gone and Tammy Abraham tipped to follow him out the door, there is at least room for a new striker this summer, and 19-year-old Armando Broja wants it.
Broja was fresh on the back of losing ten goals with Vitesse last season and was excellent in the second, reaching his own goal and helping to set up one for Ziyech.
It’s the kind of form that has Chelsea so happy about Broja, and it’s a huge relief to see him on the way to signing a new long-term contract.
Tammy on goal yesterday. ? pic.twitter.com/f8sQVpFY5n
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 18, 2021
You really have to feel for Abraham. Although he scored at a better pace than anyone else in the squad, the opportunities just will not come and he is expected to leave Chelsea this summer.
Abraham would be forgiven for accepting defeat at this point, but he is still going strong and did his job against Peterborough with a composed first half.
He’s clearly willing to try to claw his way back into the fold, and you just have to respect that.
Gaffer. ? pic.twitter.com/nOmfJhFCOz
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 17, 2021
Despite suggestions that Tuchel could turn to a 4-3-3 this season, the boss stuck to his reliable 3-4-2-1 in this game.
He did not really have the numbers needed to agree with a three-man defense (Matt Miazga was the only actual full-back on the pitch full time), but his determination to do so indicates that he is not interested in changing.
It would take a brave man to tip with the line-up that just won him the Champions League, and it seems that Tuchel recognizes that.
Chelsea are looking for a new midfielder this summer, and there were some players who got the chance to try for the role.
Miazga was the only midfielder in the second half, but early on there were minutes for Jake Clarke-Salter, Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah, who has been more of a midfielder in senior football but shining at the back at the academy level.
Of that group, Sarr has the best chance of getting into Tuchel’s plans, and the Frenchman was seen getting some one-on-one advice from the boss during the game.
Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga are both back in training, but no one got a run for this game.
Instead, the 21-year-old Jamie Cumming was given, who played the first hour of the match before being replaced by teenager Lucas Bergstrom for the last 30 minutes.
With Willy Caballero now gone and Kepa always tipping to leave, Chelsea could need a new goalkeeper, and Tuchel seems keen to explore his options.
Abramovich is still connected to Chelsea / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
The lack of livestream for this one was frustrating, not only for fans but also for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
As revealed by Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony after the match, Abramovich actually reached out to the League One side to ask for personal use of their stream of the game.
There will not be many owners of his size who go out of their way to watch games before the season. The man is bleeding blue.
