Pre-season - Chengdu Baldes 0 - 7 Chelsea

Scorers: Anelka (14'), Kalou (30'), Lampard (37'), J Cole (54', 81'), Di Santo (65'), Wright-Phillips (83')

Starting Eleven:
Cech (Hilario 60), 
Ferreira (Ivanovic 45'), Alex (Carvalho 45'), Terry (J Cole 53'), A Cole (Bridge 45'); 
Deco, Essien, Lampard (Mikel 45'); 
Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Di Santo 60'), Kalou (Malouda 45').

Chelsea continued their pre-season preparations with an easy  win over Chinese Super League side Chengdu Blades in Macau on Saturday. The Blues were always in cruise control and never looked to be in trouble by the Chinese. In a match that helped raise funds for the Sichaun earthquake appeal, goals from Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole (2), Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips completed the victory. Scolari used the match for experimenting with the formations and player combinations, a fact clear from the number of substitutions used.


Scolari began with a three man midfield  with Deco, Essien and Lampard while Mikel, who played against the chemists, didn't start. A 4-3-3 was played this time instead of what looked like a 4-1-3-2 last time. Alex came in for Ricardo Carvalho while Joe Cole started from bench. Joe was brought in the second half instead of Terry. Ivanovic was then moved to center from the right of defense and Essien played at right back. This was an experiment by Scolari considering the unavailability of first choice right back Bosingwa who was injured in the last match. Bosingwa has been ruled out for three weeks after tearing a thigh muscle on his Blues debut. Joe, who played for 37 minutes scored 2 goals and celebrated his comeback.

"Because I am new in Chelsea I need to know some players. I only played a game against these players once or twice and had an idea but have to work every day with these players and know more about them. This game was important for me.", Scolari said after the match. Scolari added that despite his performance, young Argentine Di Santo is a man for the future rather than the present. 'I think two weeks minimum for treatment, and to play, three weeks. Today I think he is out for the first game against Portsmouth but I have players for this position and today played with Paulo and put Essien there for some minutes. They played very well, it is not a problem for us. In three weeks I think he will be ready to play.', was his reaction on the Bosingwa injury. There are also reports that Scolari has played down talk of winger Shaun Wright-Phillips leaving the club to join Portsmouth. The next friendly is against Malaysian Super League select side in Kuala Lumpur on 29th.