Scout Notes – Pre-Season Round Up

Chelsea and Palace fall to defeat in their final summer friendlies, with Diego Costa still doubtful for the Blues’ home encounter with Swansea this weekend. Elsewhere, Nacer Chadli nets as Tottenham prepare for their trip to Old Trafford with a victory over AC Milan. Here’s the friendlies round-up over the last few days of pre-season…

Chelsea 0  Fiorentina 1

Jose Mourinho benched the majority of his first XI last night, with Asmir Begovic, Bertrand Traore, Kurt Zouma, John Terry and youngster Ola Aina forming the back five. John Obi Mikel and Ruben Loftus-Cheek occupied the double pivot, while Juan Cuadrado, Oscar and Victor Moses provided the service for Radamel Falcao. The remainder of Chelsea’s first-teamers were subbed on at the break or 60-minute mark.

Moses was withdrawn from the field of play after taking a knock to the eye, but Mourinho reported that he’ll be fit for the weekend. The Portuguese boss admitted that Diego Costa remains touch-and-go for the visit of Swansea City, before praising Falcao’s debut display for the Blues:

“I won’t risk my reputation again. You asked me before last weekend and I told you he (Costa) was ready to play. He wasn’t. I don’t know. I don’t risk saying yes, and I don’t risk saying no. On Friday at the next press conference I think I will tell you again that I don’t know… He (Falcao) is very good for the situation – Copa America, holidays, one week of training sessions, not the three weeks the others have had, and minutes in different matches. Today I took him off in his best moment of the game. I am very happy with his evolution.’”

Real Madrid 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Gareth Bale netted against his former employers as Spurs struggled to conjure up many clear-cut chances at the Allianz Arena. Erik Lamela made his first outing since returning late for pre-season duty, while 18-year-old summer signing Dele Alli excelled in central midfield alongside Eric Dier.

Mauricio Pochettino named a back five of Michel Vorm, Danny Rose, Kevin Wimmer, Toby Alderweirdeld and Kyle Walker, with Alli and Dier shielding the back four in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. A trio of Christian Eriksen (left wing), Erik Lamela (number ten) and Mousa Dembele (right wing) endeavoured to support lone striker Harry Kane. Nacer Chadli, Jan Vertonghen and Nabil Bentaleb entered the fray at half time.

Tottenham Hotspur 2 AC Milan 0

Spurs’ second-string XI comfortably dispatched of a lacklustre Milan outfit, with Nacer Chadli and Tom Carroll gracing the scoresheet. The former opened the scoring with a sumptuous curling strike from just outside the box, while the latter produced a neat, close-range finish that crept just inside the upright following a clever corner routine. Kieran Trippier served up the assist for Carroll and was named as the Man of the Match, having defended diligently and offered a threat with his accurate crossing.

Tottenham U21 keeper Luke McGee earned a start behind a back line of Trippier, Federico Fazio, Vertonghen and Ben Davies. Bentaleb and Dier filled the defensive midfield berths, while Carroll (number ten), Joshua Onomah and Chadli formed the trio behind makeshift lone striker, Lamela.

Hugo Lloris recovered from a wrist fracture to come on as a substitute in the 55^th minute, suggesting that he’s primed for a start against Manchester United on Saturday. Elsewhere, Ryan Mason clocked a second-half cameo on his return from the treatment room.

With Roberto Soldado missing out through a back problem and Emmanuel Adebayor set for the exit door, Pochettino was forced to field Chadli as the lone striker role yesterday, rather than play the Belgian in his XI against Real Madrid the day before. The Spurs boss admitted he’s keen to add to his options up top and confirmed the rested Harry Kane will be fit for Old Trafford:

“It is true we have Harry and maybe we need to bring another striker in. But I am not worried about Harry. He came back after the Euros [Under-21 Championships] late in his preparations but I am not worried. He is ready to compete on Saturday against Manchester United.”

Dagenham and Redbridge 1 Crystal Palace 0

Conor Wickham made his Eagles bow as the target man in a 4-3-3 set-up, with Patrick Bamford and Frazier Campbell lining up either side of the former Sunderland frontman. Campbell limped off in the first half gripping his hamstring and looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

Martin Kelly, Brede Hangeland and Chung-yong Lee – who played out of position in a central midfield berth – were the other experienced heads among a team largely comprised of developmental team members.