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Chelsea continued their positive upward trajectoryas they beat Bayer Leverkusen in the first of two pre-season friendlies at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. Following on from a successful end to the 2024/25 campaign,Enzo Maresca's side used all of the momentum to carry them over a disjointed summer.

Unlike their rivals, Chelsea have only just returned from holiday having gotten to the final and won the Club World Cup in America. That has left Maresca with less than two weeks to prepare his players and integrate new signings.

With the challenge of Champions League football on the horizon and injuries both old and new to contend with, Chelsea could not have started much better. They showed all of the cohesion and together from the back portion of last term, mixing with fresh youthful impetus and USA-inspired flexibility and speed in an impressive 2-0 win over the second-best team in Germany.

If those attempting to compete with Chelsea for a spot in the top four behind Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal had hoped to see any sign of rustiness, they would have been sorely disappointed. Roared on by an excited and expectant home crowd, Chelsea brushed past Leverkusen and were more than good value for a victory which could have been a lot more insulting on the scoreline.

Estevao Willian marked a first appearance for the club with a well-earned goal despite the early nature of it. Joao Pedro then added the gloss with a neat finish of his own from the edge of the box.

Both goals were the result of slick moves through the thirds by Chelsea, who clicked into gear immediately and regularly tested Mark Flekken in the Leverkusen net. Estevao could easily have had more, whilst Liam Delap came close twice himself.

Cole Palmer found the groove once more in a total team display from Chelsea. Here, football.london takes a look at some of the major talking points.

Chelsea's new darling

There have been doubts over the past 12 months around just how ready Estevao would be for top flight European football. His talent is not in question but his physicality and general level during a switch from Brazil was far from certain.

The Club World Cup provided a peak behind the curtain and a first look at him against stronger opposition. He was further along than many had imagined, and that culminated with a blistering right-footed goal against Chelsea in the quarter-finals, his last match for Palmeiras.

Although Estaveo did not show the same confidence on his weaker side here, he was every bit the full package. Not only did Maresca take the plunge and start him when Pedro Neto was a perfectly reasonable alternative, but Chelsea fed him the ball.

He had been surrounded by Chelsea players as they first stepped out pre-game for a walk. Pedro and Andrey Santos took him under their wing while Neto himself hung around for a chat.

Then, during the warm-up, Estevao pinged in a terrific shot to the top corner. It followed Liam Delap skying one into the top tier of the Matthew Harding Stand, only drawing a laugh.

In the game, Estevao's ease meant Tyrique George found himself a bit stranded on the left as Palmer constantly sought to unleash his right-winger. His first few touches were bright and sharp, taking on the attack-minded Alex Grimaldo. Estevao twice put in crosses and dangerous balls with his right foot and nearly assisted Marc Cucurella early on.

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Then, popping up at the back post, he was on hand to fire home from Palmer's effort which hit the crossbar. It is the sort of 'cheap' goal that wingers love.

Estevao celebrated by pumping the Chelsea and gold Club World Cup winners badges on his chest. He kissed the shirt and won over Stamford Bridge, which had been cheering his every involvement throughout the evening anyway.

Before the game, Estevao's name was greeted by the loudest reception until Palmer was read out last. By the time he left the field with 15 minutes to go, it was an uncompetitive debut worthy of a standing ovation.

Estevao could have had another goal after George sent him through on a rapid counter. His shot was well saved by Flekken. There was more to come from Estevao, though.

He flicked the ball over Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich and was kicked for his flair. His skill and danger drew plenty of harsh tackles, something he will have to get used to in the Premier League. Each time, Estevao got up, brushed himself down, and went again.

Moving across the field, he found himself linking with George on the left and played centrally in the second half as well. In the end, Estevao took four shots and was fouled twice. From being eased in, he will now be hard to displace.

He has barely been in the country for four days and this is what he is capable of. Estevao is already on set pieces for Chelsea, a display of the position he has already taken up in the group and evidence of his standing with Maresca, which says everything for the impact made.

He sent in corners and free-kicks, only narrowly missed Chalobah's head for one in the first half. He was chanted over by the fans and always a threat when stood over dead balls.

Unlike with Palmer, who came in without the fanfare or buildup, pressure and expectation has been externally piled on Estevao increasingly over the past year This game delivered on the hype and suggests that he is here to stay.

Centre-back decisions

If Estevao was a surprise starter then there was no such shock when Trevoh Chalobah was selected. He has put himself firmly back in the Chelsea setup and will only have grown in importance with the news thatLevi Colwill is likely to be out for most of the next year with a knee injury.

Between Tosin Adarabioyo and Chalobah, Chelsea covered adequately for Colwill in the Conference League and rare times when he was not involved in the Premier League last season. They will now have to step up for considerably longerunless Benoit Badiashile can remain fit and deliver on his initial promise when signing in January 2023.

Although Maresca said afterwards that he saw a new centre-back as priority, Chelsea have ample options in their squad already. Jorrel Hato was used at left-back after half time and even ventured into the inverted midfielder role, but is adept in the middle of defence.

Josh Acheampong and Wesley Fofana are the other natural right-sided players for Maresca, with Tosin and Chalobah completing the set. It was Acheampong who started here, going into the centre of a back three when Chelsea had the ball. Chalobah pushed to the left allowing Marc Cucurella into midfield and Malo Gusto was to the right.

As a whole, Chelsea were rarely tested. Chalobah, Acheampong, and Cucurella all had moments of good defending and looked composed on the ball. Acheampong did lose it once, but Tosin jumped in with a goal-saving block.

It was an ideal night for everyone, including Hato as he got to demonstrate his one-on-one ability and recovery pace to time a tackle at one stage. Maresca's insistence that another player is needed raises questions for how much he really believes Tosin and Chalobah can afford to play on the left, plus maybe indicates a lack of trust in the fitness of Badiashile and Fofana.

Adding yet more bodies to this area would also push Acheampong down the pecking order. For now, Chelsea are well stocked but that could become crowded. The defence couldn't have done much more to fight their corner but it may not be enough.

Excitement is back

The last time Chelsea played at Stamford Bridge they had just lost to Newcastle United and knew that anything but two wins from two against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest would leave them at risk of missing out on a top five spot and Champions League qualification.

Just under three months on from that and there was not tension, as was overwhelming on that night, but genuine excitement. Not even the expensive charging of tickets for a pre-season game could dampen the atmosphere.

Having celebrated the Club World Cup and Conference League victories earlier in the week with a joint trophy presentation alongside the domestic treble-winning women's side, this was an extension of that goodwill. Compare this to the desperation and concern felt in the first (and only) Stamford Bridge friendly in 2024 and it is night and day.

Then, Chelsea needed a late equaliser from Lesley Ugochukwu to draw with Inter. Maresca had started off on the wrong foot after a disastrous summer and his side were floundering.

Now they are thriving and growing. They are riding a wave that is only getting bigger. The young team has gelled and not even the bad news of Colwill's injury could halt the progress or optimism.

That flowed through Chelsea as they played with a sense of responsibility but purpose. Stamford Bridge was loud for the occasion and marked it with ceremonial glee.

The feeling at the place has changed. It wasn't just the appropriate sun and baking heat for a game in the VisitMalta weekender, but that inescapable new season hope. Instead of dread and fear, which has been the norm at Chelsea for too long, this was togetherness.

Maybe it is just pre-season and looking for too much will prove foolish. Chelsea will have worried teams with this game, though. That must be taken advantage of and the statement around it increased. They will have the chance to amplify the message against Milan on Sunday, and if the new Chelsea has anything to say about it, then it will be an opportunity they are desperate to grasp.

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