Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in a match that drew a sparse crowd to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Despite the result, it wasn’t all satisfaction for former Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel, who expressed disappointment in Noni Madueke’s performance.
Enzo Maresca’s men now sit in a favorable position in Group D, having secured three points ahead of challenging fixtures against Flamengo and ES Tunis. The stadium, with a capacity of 71,000, saw just over 22,000 fans in attendance for Chelsea’s opening match.
The first goal came courtesy of Pedro Neto, who found the net with a brilliant strike in the opening half. The win was sealed late in the second half when Enzo Fernandez converted from a move sparked by debutant Liam Delap, whose £30m transfer from Ipswich already looks promising.
Madueke, however, failed to meet expectations. The young winger started but struggled to impact the game, often stalling in one-on-one situations and delivering poor final balls. He was substituted in the second half, making way for Tyrique George. Mikel, working as a pundit, criticized Madueke for not doing enough with the ball and not contributing sufficiently to Chelsea’s attack.
There is now speculation that Chelsea could entertain offers for Madueke, who has had an inconsistent spell since joining from PSV. His lack of development may open the door for emerging talents or other new signings.
Liam Delap’s introduction proved to be a major talking point. Replacing Nicolas Jackson on 64 minutes, the young striker impressed immediately, assisting Fernandez’s goal and showcasing a good understanding of Maresca’s tactical system. Maresca praised Delap and midfielder Dario Essugo, highlighting their smooth integration into the team’s style.
Although Chelsea didn’t produce the emphatic scorelines seen from other European sides like Bayern Munich or PSG earlier in the tournament, the performance was efficient. The team will need to improve against tougher opposition if they aim to lift the Club World Cup title.