Closed Fenerbahce 0-2 Chelsea/Chelsea 0-1 Besiktas

[zolayes 14,489]

Did Cesc play the whole game? i could only watch the first half.

yes excellent in 1st game and one of the few decent in the second ,, came off early in both

[Stingray 9,441]

Costa, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic and Schurrle will cause pain, you can just see it happening. I kinda like it!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Knowing Mourinho, his arrogant enough to keep starting Ramires

Knowing the people on this site they'll probably keep slagging off Ramires even when he plays a decent game. Arrogance knows no bounds

[romeeh 139]

costa,iva: Excellent in attack and defend

oscar: very good

hazard: very good

matic: very good

shurrle: very good

fabregas: good

rameries:good

salah: good (not much time played)

terry:good

azp:good

luis: poor

willian:pooor

drogba:pooor

torres:invisable

[The Skipper 20,609]

Seems like we still need to work a lot on our 4-3-3 formation (which a lot on here love). We were really good with our 4-2-3-1 in the first game, and we really dictated the pace of the game and looked very comfortable, creating at will with Cesc dictating from deep, Costa linking up excellently with Oscar, Schurrle and Hazard. Just add Filipe Luis' attacking intent to the first half performance and formations we set out and we'll do very well this year. Really excited, can't wait to attend SB a couple of times this season.

[TheIceMan 596]

Oscar and Diego will do wonders the upcoming season. The eleven that started the 1 game will start against Burnley!!!

[zolayes 14,489]

Ramires shouldn't be starting, but I did like what I saw from him. Legs and work rate which helped greatly in choking the life out of Besiktas.

Replace Willian with Schurrle and no doubt the formation would have looked more dangerous.

so you thought ramires was our best player in the second game ,,,, making a note NEVER to debate with you ..

[romeeh 139]

i think luis was going forward more than willian

[Liquidator 5,176]

Knowing Mourinho, his arrogant enough to keep starting Ramires

Knowing Mourinho, he's won everything there is to win in 4 countries and probably knows what is best for the team.

[Sanctuar 9]

I thought the interaction between fabregas, oscar, hazard, schurrle and costa was fantastic when they all played together. A lot of movement in different directions and quality passing from those on the ball. With matic breaking up opposition play and distributing the ball to these guys, I got to say that I am excited for the new season even though it was just a pre season game

[Barbara 15,149]

Well, Mourinho decided to make two tests there and I'm sure he's already aiming the start of the league 10 days from now. He must have felt as happy as we did with the first half formation, but I don't think he liked the second half that much.

We played 4-3-3 before this pre-season (against Vitesse in the second half if I'm not wrong) and it worked really, really well, the thing is today we played with Ramires, Cesc and Matic (a suggestion many of you have made btw) and I think that's the root of our problems. Ramires (kill me) was the third midfield man and played continuously ahead of Cesc. Ramires worked well against the strongest sides last season as a wing, but please, Mourinho, take notes to NEVER EVER AGAIN deploy him in a 4-3-3 as the most advanced midfielder. It's painful. Yes, he was good at some stretches, but showed his always so impressive ability to miss a 2m pass.

Willian killed the rest of the system, and no, I'm not crucifying the guy - after all he's been training for less than a week, but he was the weak link in this match, sorry if some think that saying that is making him the next Mikel. We analyze matches - each of us has an opinion and imo he was our worst player in those 90 minutes (although Cahill wasn't that great either). He's just back in the team, he has a lot of time to pick up his best form and hopefully he will, but he and then Ramires ruining the 4-3-3 killed our attack in the second. We've created absolutely nothing except a corner Cesc took and that Iva anticipated Terry - who was in much better position to score.

Btw, Mourinho, while we're at the willian subject, for all that is sacred, do not allow him anywhere corners. Thanks in advance.

[zolayes 14,489]

Well, Mourinho decided to make two tests there and I'm sure he's already aiming the start of the league 10 days from now. He must have felt as happy as we did with the first half formation, but I don't think he liked the second half that much.

We played 4-3-3 before this pre-season (against Vitesse in the second half if I'm not wrong) and it worked really, really well, the thing is today we played with Ramires, Cesc and Matic (a suggestion many of you have made btw) and I think that's the root of our problems. Ramires (kill me) was the third midfield man and played continuously ahead of Cesc. Ramires worked well against the strongest sides last season as a wing, but please, Mourinho, take notes to NEVER EVER AGAIN deploy him in a 4-3-3 as the most advanced midfielder. It's painful. Yes, he was good at some stretches, but showed his always so impressive ability to miss a 2m pass.

Willian killed the rest of the system, and no, I'm not crucifying the guy - after all he's been training for less than a week, but he was the weak link in this match, sorry if some think that saying that is making him the next Mikel. We analyze matches - each of us has an opinion and imo he was our worst player in those 90 minutes (although Cahill wasn't that great either). He's just back in the team, he has a lot of time to pick up his best form and hopefully he will, but he and then Ramires ruining the 4-3-3 killed our attack in the second. We've created absolutely nothing except a corner Cesc took and that Iva anticipated Terry - who was in much better position to score.

Btw, Mourinho, while we're at the willian subject, for all that is sacred, do not allow him anywhere corners. Thanks in advance.

PLEASE never start with Ramires if Schurrle can walk ...

[The Chels 2,502]

The interchanging between Oscar and Fabregas in the first match was excellent.

[The_Flash 1,144]

Aww bit gutted about that. They had not had a shot, didn't see us not winning then out of nowhere they get that goal. I was like WTF they've won. Jose was raging and I don't blame him. What has happened to Cahill since he went to WC with England his performances have been very poor, particularly tonight. Shame those wee trophies were awesome.

Ah well let's look at few positives.p, I'm bit tired to give big list but Costa is looking sharp and got good goal and Didier being back is super positive. Andre looked very good despite just coming back

[Viper22 2,418]

Main positive from this is that Besiktas looked pretty good and they're the team that Arsenal have to play in the Champions League, surely? .

[LondonsFinest 692]

IMO:Mourinho wanted to see 2 things. If we can press and go all out for the goals and the win. (Fenerbahce) and if we can control and close a game if we have a shaky lead (Besiktas). And he nearly succeeded, if Cech didn't take a wrong decision, but nevermind. I think we have the class challenge seriously for the title, I can only hope.

[bababoom 4,478]

Why didn't Courtois play?

[Barbara 15,149]

Why didn't Courtois play?

injured - seemingly a minor one.

[xdottenx 20]

Is there anywhere I can see the match?

English comentary

[Footballover 222]

These kind of games are so annoying IMO... They are good for the fitness of the players but they offer absolutely nothing competitively wise. You can't really prepare yourself to face two completely different oppositions in one game, especially if the second one is fresh and you are not... The Besiktas game and the "loss" tell me nothing, glad we were good in the first 45 and delighted with Diego's goal. Next.

BTW - Bruno Alves is a disgraceful cunt. Always hated this player.