Chelsea and Brentford pre season notes

Key FPL notes from Chelsea and Brentford friendlies highlight Estevao's debut and injury news

Estevao shines for Chelsea in pre season win

Chelsea opened their pre season with a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Estevao scored the opener after Cole Palmer’s shot hit the woodwork and fell to him, and the Brazilian added seven shots and three chances created. Enzo Maresca called Estevao a fantastic player and noted he is very young and needs to play. Palmer drifted into dangerous areas and was withdrawn at half time as Estevao moved into the No 10 role. Joao Pedro finished in stoppage time after coming on as a substitute. Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson were left out amid transfer speculation. Levi Colwill faces a long‑term injury, while Trevoh Chalobah started at centre back as Chelsea look at defensive options. Chelsea play AC Milan on Sunday before a league opener with Crystal Palace.

Brentford drew 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach after Kelleher was ruled out with a knock and Kevin Schade also missed the match. Damsgaard and Carvalho scored for Brentford, with Damsgaard delivering a constant threat from set‑pieces. Lewis‑Potter operated out of position on the left, while Igor Thiago looked isolated at times. Brentford are due to play again on the training ground, with many who did not feature expected to return. Brentford XI: Valdimarsson; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Henry; Jensen, Yarmoliuk; Carvalho, Damsgaard, Lewis‑Potter; Thiago.

Estevao’s early impact could shift how Chelsea approach this summer. At 6.0m, he could become a popular budget option if the minutes stay high. The Levi Colwill injury creates a real test for Chelsea’s defensive planning and may push the club to pursue a defender before the window closes. Transfer talk around Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson adds another layer of uncertainty around attacking rotations. Brentford’s performance shows a growing threat from Damsgaard’s delivery and Carvalho’s finishing, suggesting a potential underpriced asset for FPL managers willing to ride a small risk. The absence of Kelleher also leaves Brentford with a rotation question in goal once the squad regains full fitness, reinforcing the idea that pre season is as much about depth as star names.

Highlights

More pre season fixtures will test these early signs as squads settle.