We expected Liam Rosenior to pick a pretty strong team to face Charlton last night, given it was his first game in charge as manager, but in the end he rotated a lot.
It was a risk, but it paid off. The Blues were excellent, running out heavy winners with a lot of the second string players impressing.
Speaking after the game Rosenior was gushing about a few of his options in particular.
Rosenior praises Chelsea trio who took the fight to Charlton
Chelsea players celebrate goal against Charlton.
Chelsea players celebrate goal against Charlton. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
None of the front three who he picked last night have been starting in the Premier League recently, but Rosenior insisted he was delighted with what he had seen from them:
“I was delighted with the front three. I felt Ale [Garnacho] kept going in his one-v-ones. Marc Guiu was magnificent, deserved his goal. Jamie [Gittens] looked like he was going at the defenders. He looked like he could create in a lot of moments. So a lot of real positives and a good start.”
Guiu is still likely to be behind Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the race for minutes up front. Gittens and Garnacho have Estevao, Pedro Neto and potentially even Cole Palmer to compete with out wide. But all of them did their case to play more no harm with their efforts last night.
In other news…
The fourth and fifth Chelsea goals came very late, but were well deserved on the night given the performance Pedro Neto drilled in a near post shot then Estevao’s nice dribble which Enzo Fernandez put away with the last kick of the game.
Chelsea’s second and third were really the goals that put the game into their power. Tosin scored a header just after half time, and shortly after Charlton scored Marc Guiu made it 3-1 with a close range finish.
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Jorrel Hato in action against Charlton.
Chelsea players celebrate goal against Charlton.
Liam Rosenior speaks after his first game in charge.