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Chelsea preseason: Three lessons learnt away to Bournemouth

By Travis Tyler

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Zeno Ibsen Rossi of AFC Bournemouth battles for possession with Armando Broja of Chelsea during the Pre-Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea at Vitality Stadium on July 27, 2021 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Zeno Ibsen Rossi of AFC Bournemouth battles for possession with Armando Broja of Chelsea during the Pre-Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea at Vitality Stadium on July 27, 2021 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

2. Rising stock

Several players are coming out of this match with rising stock for Chelsea next season. Let’s not bury the lead though; Callum Hudson-Odoi ran the show. From the right wingback position, Hudson-Odoi was the beginning and the end of everything Chelsea tried to do. It got so stark that by the second half the entire game plan had basically become “get it to Hudson-Odoi and hope he does something”. If the winger turned wingback is looking to make his mark in the new season, he couldn’t be doing a better job thus far.

Next best was Armando Broja, who only played the second half but scored and made his impact felt. His pressing and positioning were fantastic and his goal well taken. He tried to set up a few others and on another day may have ended with more goals and assists. It isn’t hard to see why Tuchel likes him; he has a bit of everything and with a little refining he could be a super star sooner rather than later.

Hakim Ziyech turned up well in the first half as well. Part of that may be Hudson-Odoi running the show and some of the shine coming off on Ziyech, but the midfielder did find great positions and passes several times in the first half. For a player from last season that really needs to make a good impression while his competition is gone, he did well.

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Conor Gallagher was the only player to go the full 90. Though he is somewhat rough on the ball and got rougher off it as the match went on, his energy to win the ball back was something to behold. If the club was looking for a N’Golo Kante deputy for next season, they could hardly do worse than Gallagher. He needs to tidy up his tackling, but otherwise it was a good match from him.

Perhaps the surprise package was Lewis Baker playing at centerback. Now, Baker is very much not and never has been a defender, but it would be hard to tell from that match. Bournemouth were unable to expose any unease from the Englishman and on the ball he was practically unfazed anytime he was pressed. It would be a long shot for one of Chelsea’s most talented academy graduates to make it now, but he put in a good account to build on.

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