Chelsea beat Milan 4-1 in pre-season

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Pedro and Delap will contribute goals this season while also missing chances.

Maresca expects Chelsea strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to score and miss chances

Chelsea beat AC Milan 4-1 in a weekend pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both found the net, with Delap scoring twice. Pedro has now scored five goals in five appearances since joining Chelsea, including two friendlies with Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.

Maresca described Pedro and Delap as Chelsea's current strikers and said the club is happy with them, while warning that finishing chances will come with misses too. The manager noted Delap's experience from playing at the club world cup and highlighted the form of Cole Palmer and Reece James as positives as Chelsea prepare for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Milan had a red card early in the game, which shifted the tempo, but the side showed the intensity and tempo they want to take into the season.

Chelsea could deploy both Pedro and Delap in the same XI, with Pedro possibly operating from wide, as Maresca weighs how to balance the attack. The results add momentum to a squad in transition after a busy summer, but the real test remains in the league.

Maresca’s comments lay out a practical view of Chelsea’s attacking potential this season. If Pedro maintains his scoring mood and Delap builds consistency, Chelsea could threaten from multiple angles. Yet the manager’s honesty about misses signals a focus on finishing discipline and pressure management, especially as expectations rise. The pre-season wins offer momentum, but results in the Premier League will require sharper finishing and tighter defense as the calendar packs in.

Highlights

The season will reveal how Chelsea balance ambition with a new front line.