To see West Ham fans streaming home from the London Stadium with barely half an hour played against Chelsea was baffling.
After all, the Irons had taken the lead under the floodlights, cueing widespread rejoicing among the home fans. The Blues levelled, West Ham regained the lead, only for VAR to rule it out, then Chelsea netted twice for a 3-1 halftime lead.
But to give up on your team so quickly, in the club's first home game of the season, seemed absurd. Have Hammers fans no faith in their players?
The Blues ended up 5-1 victors, with five different scorers. Significantly, Cole Palmer wasn't on the pitch after pulling up with a groin strain in the warm-up. But teenage Brazilian sensation Estevao fill his boots superbly. He may have been culpable for the home team's opener, but he more than made up for it with assists and pinpoint crosses from the right.
Joao Pedro is proving a real handful for opponents, while Liam Delap is settling well into his dangerman role up front.
All in all, it looks very promising ahead of Saturday lunchtime's tie against Fulham at Stamford Bridge – a match which clashes with Chelsea Women's season's warm-up against AC Milan at Kingsmeadow.
Enzo Maresca is looking relaxed and confident in the Chelsea technical area, having silenced the small core of doubters by masterminding victory in the World Club Cup in the States.
The Blues' squad is layered with quality in all positions - except, perhaps, goalkeeper. But even if Robert Sanchez is guilty of making some bizarre split-second decisions, he's a dependable shot-stopper, and Chelsea's back four – joined at the London Stadium by a fit-again Tosin – appear perfectly happy with the man between the sticks.
WSL build-up
Chelsea Women's official season opener to the Women's Super League is at Stamford Bridge on Friday 5 September against Manchester City.
Lauren James will be missing. It seems unlikely she'll make any appearance until October as she's nursed back to full fitness after being subbed in the final of the Euros, having helped the Lionesses lift the trophy.
Everything seems to stem from that hamstring tweak she suffered against Belgium in April. Chelsea are vague about her recovery time, simply referring to "a period of rehabilitation".
It seems certain that she won't feature against City, although Sam Kerr could be back on the bench in the coming weeks after an interminable 19-month lay-off following a knee rebuild.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
