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After Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in a pre-season friendly (August 8), former Blues star Frank LeBeouf highlighted one important aspect of the victory that he was impressed with. The Frenchman claimed that his former side's offensive depth, versatility and pace will 'create trouble for any defence'.
Since their triumph at the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer, the Blues have taken some time off to rest and recover. The win over Leverkusen and an upcoming match-up against AC Milan are their only pre-season games ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Against the 2024-25 Bundesliga runners-up, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer, Tyrique George and Estevao Willian started in attack. Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens made appearances off the bench, showcasing the incredible depth at Enzo Maresca's disposal.
Goals from teenage sensation Estevao (18') and newly-signed Pedro (90') secured a solid victory for the Blues. After the full-time whistle, LeBeouf was full of praise for the rapid attacking transitions and effective chance creation on display.
The 47-year-old, who made 204 appearances for Chelsea between 1996 and 2001, said (via TBR Football h/t ESPN):
"I was very impressed with the forward players, and all the players that came on because there were many substitutions. The pace that they have when they get the ball in transition, it's pretty amazing and threatening for the future games that they are going to play against the others. I mean, they go fast. They're very effective. And if Estevao, Neto, Palmer, and some others, of course Joao Pedro, are fit, they are going to create trouble for any defence."
Up next, the Blues will be seen in action in their final pre-season friendly against Milan on Sunday (August 10).
"There is another level for him" - Joe Cole makes claim about Chelsea's summer signing
Chelsea hero Joe Cole lauded Brazilian forward Joao Pedro after his goal secured a 2-0 win for the Blues against Bayer Leverkusen. While the Englishman acknowledged the 23-year-old's stellar performances, he asserted that 'there is another level for him to go up'.
Mid-way through the FIFA Club World Cup, Pedro joined Enzo Maresca's side from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £60 million fee. He made an instant impact, scoring a brace in a 2-0 win over Fluminense in the semi-final and a goal in the 3-0 triumph over PSG to lift the trophy.
Speaking on TNT Sport, Cole lavished praise on the young Brazilian. He said (via The Chelsea Chronicle):
“He looked like he had been a Chelsea player for years (at the Club World Cup)… He can play centre-forward, he can play off the left, and he can play off the right. I think they probably don’t realise how much of a good player they’ve got. I think there is another level for him to go up.”
Chelsea's first competitive game of the 2025-26 season will be the opening fixture of their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace (August 17).
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Aaryan Nagraj
Aaryan has been covering European football at Sportskeeda since the start of 2024. He is pursuing an integrated M.Sc. degree in Chemistry at NIT Rourkela, and tends to rely on his proclivity for numbers and statistics for his content, making the most of websites like Transfermarkt and FotMob. He is also a district level basketball and table tennis player.
A Borussia Dortmund fan, Aaryan had his first tryst with football during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Despite his young mind being influenced by Lionel Messi's exploits, his favorite World Cup moment is Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning free-kick against Spain from the 2018 version. He strongly believes that Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz can replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their respective potentials.
Aaryan, who has been on commentary panels for football and cricket tournaments at his university, is a huge admirer of Achraf Hakimi for the Moroccan's loan stint in Dortmund between 2018 and 2020. His favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp, who impressed him with his excellent tactical nous and benignant man-management skills.
When he is not scouring the internet for unique statistics, Aaryan follows the Indian Super League, the A-League, and the Saudi Pro League among others. He is an avid quizzer and debater, and a trained classical and western musician who likes to rock out for his college band, Euphony, as lead vocalist and guitarist.
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Edited by Aaryan Nagraj