Sterling, Koulibaly and Kante: what we learned as Chelsea FC closed the turbulent preseason on a high

New registrations Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly started and performed far away on the Italian side.

However, for all their dominance, they had only two goals to prove and the game remained even until Mason Mount added a goal in the 90th minute to N’Golo Kante and Raheem Sterling’s first half strikes.

The Blues were playing against a team that is close to the team that will face Everton next week, with a squad of fringe players about to play. Udinese‘s fringe and reserve team tomorrow in another friendly that will take place behind closed doors.

With the usual caveats that this was a pre-season friendly – and against a weaker side in a weaker league – here are the key points from the game…

Kante and Mount will still be Chelsea’s stars in 2022-23

Last season, Thomas Tuchel compared Kante to Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe. It was not because of his dribbling or finishing ability, but because of his stature and importance at Stamford Bridge.

Not only did Kante prove those words true at Stadio Friuli, but he also scored a goal worthy of the two superstar forwards.

Dribbling halfway through the opponent, he drove 15 yards towards the opponent’s defense before hitting a weaker left-footed attack into the far corner. The shot hit the post and Marco Silvestri had no chance.

His 20th-minute strike followed an excellent first 30 minutes that reminded his side what they had missed after he was forced to sit out the tour of the United States due to his vaccination status.

The France international almost added another wonder strike, turning Walace over in the 51st minute but saving his curled edge of the penalty area.

Next to Kante, Mount was at his most creative, creating a myriad of chances early on, drifting in wide spaces and inflicting damage on the opposition.

After six minutes he created the first chance, playing brilliantly in Sterling, but after a good first touch his shot was saved by goalkeeper Silvestri. He created again in the 23rd minute for Kai Havertz although his tame effort was easily saved.

The 23-year-old scored almost twice from chances created by his England team-mates Reece James and Sterling.

Chelsea’s two-time Player of the Season tapped in a last minute cross from Callum Hudson-Odoi to show that he is well placed to continue in the same vein.

Raheem Sterling deserved his nasty goal and looks good

The 27-year-old didn’t cover himself with glory when he tried to lob the goalkeeper after holding Jorginho’s slick ball.

Yet he still deserved the ricochet who threw the ball into the net in the 37th minute for his first Chelsea goal after a diligent first half.

He also hit the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty area 61 minutes into Havertz’s athletic run.

Udinese chased after his shadow with his intelligent movement, speed and natural fitness that left the Serie A squad in a ragged condition.

At times it was hard to understand the position Sterling was playing with him, falling deep, trailing and floating wide in the same game.

Each position was chosen intelligently and purposefully, creating space for Mount to pull the strings or Havertz to get to the end of the crosses.

In their third appearance together, it looked like something had clicked, which will likely be Chelsea’s favorite front three against Everton next Saturday.

It doesn’t mean that questions about the lack of a classic number nine striker won’t continue with both Havertz and Sterling not being as clinical as you’d like.

Koulibaly is a great asset but Chelsea need more

Thiago Silva went down several times in the first half and Cesar Azpilicueta looked functional without excelling amid rumors of a move to Barcelona this summer.

Close to two other leaders in the back, Kalidou Koulibaly just seems like a third and more still one in his prime and who is totally committed.

He wasn’t playing against a party he knows well, but his interventions often come at the right time. Notably, his slide-tackle late in the first half to clip a ball from Roberto Pereyra to Gerard Deulofeu.

It was a rare moment for the 31-year-old to commit with most of his duels controlled and dominant. After a solid debut against Arsenal, despite a 4-0 defeat, he got the result that matched his performance on the left of Tuchel’s back three.

Tuchel still has tactical work to do

Chelsea still look less solid than they would ideally like, with a simple counter-attack between Pereyra and Deulofeu leading to a poor goal.

Edouard Mendy’s first save came straight for former Watford and Barcelona striker Deulofeu.

But what will really worry Tuchel is the lack of communication between midfield and defence, forcing Mount to attempt a lung-busting recovery run to stop it.

However, it should have been the job of the midfield to take down Pereyra or the defense to sense the danger and close his shot.

Udinese created even more opportunities when Isaac Success shot on target in the 59th minute, but missed the target.

Chelsea’s press has generally been good, but Tuchel will demand near-perfection from his side to achieve their goals next season.