Chelsea’s first-team squad took part in an in-house friendly on Saturday morning as preparations continue for the upcoming season.
football.london understands the match ended 4-0, with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Tino Anjorin all on the scoresheet. Anjorin also grabbed two assists.
It was a vital match for several players to get minutes under their belt, including Mount and Jorginho, who have been missing most of pre-season due to their involvement in Euro 2020.
The game was another in the Blues’ pre-season schedule, which included wins at Bournemouth and Arsenal as well as a draw with Tottenham.
Thomas Tuchel’s men kick off the new campaign against Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night, before hosting Crystal Palace in their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday.
Wantaway players impress
At the start of the week, Tuchel had 42 players at the Cobham training complex, but the incredibly bloated squad will almost certainly be streamlined before the transfer window shuts.
Two players whose futures are up in the air are Abraham and Anjorin.
Including his goal today, Abraham has now netted three times in four games, but the England striker does not appear to be in the German coaches’ plans, and the imminent arrival of Romelu Lukaku appears to have sealed his fate.
The 23-year-old is not short of suitors, however, with Arsenal and West Ham strongly linked, and there is interest from Southampton and Atalanta.
As well as getting on the scoresheet, Anjorin also got two assists, and the midfielder is highly thought of at Stamford Bridge, despite his limited game time this summer.
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Speaking to football.london, Tuchel said: “When the season ended, we agreed he stays for pre-season and he’d get the minutes he deserves. Unfortunately, before the first friendly, Tino was the guy to test positive for Covid and really suffered for ten, 12 days.
“I just wished we had the possibility to see him against Peterborough, Bournemouth and Arsenal so he could really make a statement. Now the season more or less starts again. So he has suffered without having any responsibility for it.”
While he could still feature for Chelsea this season, the 19-year-old may be better off out on loan in order to show off his promising talent.