Rossoneri

By Since66
October 4 2008

Fabio Borini scored his SIXTH goal in a week as the Reserves trounced AC Milan reserves this morning at a very blustery and windy Cobham training ground. It was a busy Cobham. As well as this game, the first team were training for tomorrow's game against Villa and the U16s were in action against Arsenal U16s.

It was Miroslav Stoch who was the star of the show.

He scored Chelsea's first from the penalty spot after being brought down between Milan's goalkeeper and Captain in the early minutes and then in a whirlwind last ten minutes, Stoch made both goals for Ferreira and Morten Nielsen.

Stoch so impressed, Brendan Rodgers said after the game which was shown exclusively live on Chelsea TV, "Miroslav is technically very strong and can go both sides, he can move and we saw that today. He ran forward, ran back and was outstanding."

Chelsea welcomed back Gael Kakuta who had been out with a serious groin injury.

Also making his first start of the season was centre-half Sam Hutchinson after being sidelined for a year with a serious knee injury.

Carl Magnay continued his progress at left-back.

Four reserves: Rhys Taylor, Franco Di Santo, Scott Sinclair and Michael Mancienne were not involved as they were training with the first team squad.

Chelsea had two goals disallowed - one in the first half from Paim and one in the second from Man of the Match Stoch.

Stoch was so aggrieved with the decision that he got himself a yellow card.

AC Milan's skipper Pasini got a red card for bringing down Stoch in the second-half and from the resultant free-kick, AC's lumbering 'keeper made a fine save from Stoch's shot.

Chelsea's 'keeper Nic Heimann could have brought his deck-chair out as AC's attacking threat was so poor. It took 67 minutes for Milan to have a decent shot at goal - Heimann dived to his left to save well.

On the game itself, Rodgers said, "I think when you play those sorts of games and have a scoreline like that against a club like that it is very pleasing.

"As we expected, walking off the pitch after winning a game is very pleasing and four goals and a clean sheet is very pleasing, especially against one of the biggest clubs in the world. Our form and performances continue."

Expect more friendlies like this one to be arranged.

There is talk of Liverpool coming to Cobham home and away matches against Juventus, the same against Inter and a return with AC Milan sometime in the future.

The reason for these friendlies is because the Barclays League Premier South division has been reduced to nine teams (to reflect the Barclays Premiership) which means only 16 matches between now and the end of the season.

In fact Chelsea have only four more matches before the Christmas break.

The reserves next action is at home to Aston Villa on Monday 13th October 2008.

Chelsea:

Heimann, Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Bruma, Hutchinson (Taiwo 61), Magnay, Bridcutt (c), Stoch, Tejera, Kakuta (Fernandes 61), Borini (Nielsen 75), Paim (Ferreira H/T)

Searle - Unused