AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea: 5 Talking Points as Blues claim well-earned win over Cherries | Club friendlies 2021

#3 Sloppy Chelsea switch off as Bournemouth score

Emiliano Marcondes netted a valuable opener for Bournemouth

The likes of Jake Clarke-Salter, Matt Miazga, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ike Ugbo, Armando Broja and stand-in skipper Edouard Mendy came on at half-time.

It was a tactical tweak from Tuchel, who stationed Abraham and Broja upfront. Chelsea, however, took time to settle into the second-half as well. Conor Gallagher was robbed off the ball while being the last man for his side, but much to his relief, Brooks failed to hit the target in a one-versus-one battle with Mendy.

The Chelsea shot-stopper rescued his side with a sensational save from close range to deny Kyle Edwards after the former West Bromwich Albion youngster had been played in by Jack Stacey.

The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 66th minute, with Stacey and Brooks once again combining beautifully on the right wing. The Bournemouth right-back whipped in a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, where summer signing Emiliano Marcondes popped in to rifle home the opener.

As far as Chelsea were concerned, they failed to deal with the cross or track the attacking midfielder's run. It was almost as though the tired Chelsea legs paused for a moment before realizing it was too late.

---

#4 Quick-fire goals from Chelsea result in the win

Ike Ugbo scored the winner for Chelsea

Just when it seemed like Chelsea would struggle to come up with the answers after falling behind, the pace of the game soared.

A sumptuous delivery from Baba Rahman found Broja in the middle of the box between the Bournemouth centre-backs. The striker laid it down on his chest and found the back of the net with aplomb.

He was involved once again, tussling with the opposition defenders and winning a corner out of nothing. Ross Barkley aimed his ball into the near post, where Ugbo stood firm to leave Travers with absolutely no chance.

Chelsea held on to win, but it was all about Barkley, Loftus-Cheek and Gallagher's industry in the middle, as well as Ugbo and Broja's combined finishing. The 3-5-2 system is something Tuchel could implement if Chelsea are behind, in need of goals.

Broja impressed a lot of Chelsea fans today and for good reason. Only 19 years old but already has that Diego Costa physicality to his game. pic.twitter.com/UtnfF45SEG

— Conn (@ConnCFC) July 27, 2021

---

#5 Who could break into Chelsea's first-team?

Conor Gallagher was the only man to play the full 90 minutes

It's only a two-week period, but pre-season is a key provider of Chelsea 2021/22's first impressions.

Tuchel gave as many as 21 players the chance to impress in the middle, with Conor Gallagher the only man to spend the entire 90 minutes on the pitch. Perhaps, he is one that the Chelsea boss is looking to draft into the first-team.

Gallagher huffed and puffed in the middle and was safe with his distribution, barring one scare that almost led to the opening goal of the match through David Brooks. Whether or not he can move up the pecking order with Loftus-Cheek and Barkley competing remains to be seen.

Broja could be in the first-team in place of Giroud if Chelsea fail to sign a new striker and Abraham departs.

In defense, the likes of Malang Sarr and Lewis Baker impressed fairly in the opening 45 minutes, but with Chelsea poised to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla, the club's young defenders could be heading out on loan.