The Blues may have found time to put four past Pompey yesterday afternoon, but the game was effectively wrapped up once Joe Cole latched onto Michael Ballack’s dinked ball to open the scoring early in the first half.
For the Londoners’ first-half display was of a rare calibre, dominant yet incredibly attractive and entertaining. New signing Deco was among the standouts, the Portugal playmaker ever-present and linking magnificently with his fellow midfielders. Also looking ominous was Nicolas Anelka, whose tireless runs and intelligent knock-downs always provided an option for the creative talents milling behind him.
It was an outstanding performance in every possible way, as the hosts not only battered Harry Redknapp’s side on the attack but also closed them down ferociously.
And while Scolari was thrilled with the showing, he urged his team to work even harder and play even better next week.
“It was more than I expected,” he said in The Telegraph. “We won 4-0 but, more important, the Chelsea fans saw a beautiful game. We have to keep this going – and we can. Every game, every week.
“We played more aggressive than last season and Portsmouth were surprised with our team. This is a Chelsea performance. But we’ll need more quality in the future.”
Happy
The patrons at Stamford Bridge revelled in Chelsea’s stylish and silky display, having endured several years of less than inspiring football.
Jose Mourinho may have led the Blues to an unprecedented level of success, but the Portuguese manager had little regard for the manner in which his side won. His successor, Avram Grant, did nothing to improve the team’s aesthetic appeal.
Owner Roman Abramovich, who is determined to make his club the most marketable in the world, will thus be especially pleased with Scolari’s magnificent debut.
The Brazilian coach certainly hopes so: “I think the owner is happy, like the other fans. It was a different experience for me to what I’ve lived until now. I only give the players the freedom to play and allow them to express their style. Lampard is not Brazilian - he’s English but he touched the ball very well. The same with Michael Ballack.
“The full-backs [Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole] are good when they go forward. They cross very well, dribble very well. We played as a team.
“I’m happy with Anelka too. I said to him, ‘Today you will have three or four chances. You need to make one or two goals for me and for the people. I want people to believe in you more than before.’”
Chelsea have set the tone and the pace during the first week of the season, comfortably overshadowing their top-four rivals. But the question remains: can they keep it up, or will they sink back into the usual turgid fare by September?
Scolari: Titles Come First, Not Entertainment
Scolari - Sheva in my plans
Malouda: I’m Staying At Chelsea