A number of youngsters impressed for Chelsea in their 5-0 win against Wrexham on Thursday morning including Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei who played the full 90 minutes in North Carolina
Mauricio Pochettino (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino was left delighted with what he saw from his Chelsea squad on Thursday morning as the Blues thrashed League Two side Wrexham in their opening match of pre-season.
Goals from Ian Maatsen (x2), Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku and Ben Chilwell ensured a comfortable victory for Pochettino in the Argentine’s first match in charge. It was very much an experimental game for Pochettino, as most pre-season encounters are, with the Chelsea head coach using a total of 20 players over the course of the 90 minutes.
Pochettino made nine substitutions in the match, at different stages, to try and hand minutes to as many players as possible. Only two players, Bashir Humphreys and Cesare Casadei, played the full match for Chelsea in the 5-0 win.
Casadei, in particular, impressed for the Blues. In the first-half, he was very much used alongside fellow youngster Andrey Santos in a double pivot. However, when the teams came back out for the second period, the Italian was deployed in a much more advanced role. He showed his capabilities, and then some, in both roles, leaving a lot of Chelsea fans with plenty to say about his performance.
On the ‘Carefree’ Reddit page, the young Italian left Chelsea supporters enthralled with his display in North Carolina. One labelled him the club’s new ‘starboy’, while another user said: “Shout out to the scouting. Not sure if it was [Paul] Winstanley and/or [Laurence] Stewart that recommended Casadei but clearly that side of the club is in good shape.”
Another said: “Going straight to the top. I’ve never been more sure.” While someone replied: “Get that man a seat in the senior squad.”
Casadei, who started alongside Santos and just behind Carney Chukwuemeka, really caught the eye in Chapel Hill. Pochettino was asked about the trio in his post-match press conference and whether they will have a role in the first-team squad for the upcoming season.
“Of course it is early,” the Blues’ head coach explained. “The profile is very good, the two names and Carney also, and of course Casadei and Andrey.
“They have the profile, only they need time, they are young. We cannot forget we are in Chelsea, the pressure is always to win. They need to have the place, to have time to evolve but yes the profile is good.”
Chelsea’s starting line-up for the match against Wrexham was younger than 21-years-old. Pochettino handed a host of young players the opportunity to showcase themselves against the League Two side and the head coach was left impressed with how the players conducted themselves on the pitch.
He added: “I am happy with all. Always difficult, the first game. 50,000 people or more always this is difficult for them in the first-game of pre-season, the conditions, you can feel it was hot.
“I am happy. We will see what happens in the next few weeks and when we come back to England we will decide the future of these young players who maybe have future here or sometime can maybe be part of the squad. For sure, great potential.”
Soucre: football.london
