If Chelsea are to reach the Carabao Cup final like they did last season, they will face a tougher opponent than just Barrow. The League Two leaders don’t stand a chance against a B team as superior as this one.
Enzo Maresca made 11 changes, but it was hardly a bargain bin of Blues reserves. It cost £415.8m to assemble, and of course that superiority was on display on a night when Christopher Nkunku helped himself to a hat-trick.
Nkunku cost £52m when he was signed by Chelsea, while the starting attackers also included £89m Mykhailo Mudryk, £54m Pedro Neto and £46.3m Joao Felix. And that was before he made the bench, where there was a certain £50m left-back in Ben Chilwell, who was brought on in the second half to mark his first minutes of the season after ending his exile.
In addition to Nkunku’s three-pointer, an unfortunate own goal from Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman and a tap-in from Neto ensured a five-star score.
It was a credit to the visiting fans that they didn’t stop singing during this football lesson at Stamford Bridge. Those who made the 600-mile round trip may have already resigned themselves to their fate by the time the line-ups were announced.
Christopher Nkunku (right) made the most of his start against Barrow by scoring a hat-trick
Joao Felix’s free-kick was deflected by Barrow keeper Paul Farman to put Chelsea 3-0 up at half-time
Pedro Neto scored his first goal for the Blues after his £53million move from Wolves this summer
They were determined to enjoy themselves and ended the evening by singing, “We’re on top of the league.”
Rory Feely’s long throws gave them hope of an opening goal, but Chelsea took the lead in the eighth minute with a goal that showed their flashiness. It was the most artistic assist the Carabao Cup is sure to see this season, as Felix, facing the Barrow defence, scooped the ball over the top for Nkunku to volley past Farman.
Nkunku scored again after 15 minutes, this time tapping in a cross from Malo Gusto after Neto had saved a backheel.
When Gusto was fouled 25 yards from goal, Felix was on the centrally placed free kick. He curled the ball onto the post, but it bounced back off Farman for an own goal, making it 3-0 within 30 minutes.
Chelsea have been without a shirt sponsor, and still haven’t secured one after a summer of negotiations. They have been in trouble due to their lack of Champions League football, but are now in talks with Qatar Airways and two other major airlines to rectify that.
Chilwell may not have expected to see himself in this blue shirt again after being told in the last transfer window to prepare for a sale or at the very least a loan spell. Maresca had privately told him he didn’t need him at left-back. But after a move fell through, Chelsea’s head coach decided to reinstate him into the first team.
Farman was caught by Nkunku in the closing stages, who calmly turned and fired the ball into an empty net
The Frenchman produced his trademark celebration after completing his three-piece appearance at Stamford Bridge
Chilwell came on in the second half, with Chelsea fans cheering his name as it was announced over the public address system, as well as his first touch of the ball, with the England international even pulling on the captain’s armband.
It was from the left side of the pitch that Chelsea scored their fourth on 47 minutes. It began with Nkunku playing in Mudryk, who selflessly played the ball to Neto. The summer signing made no mistake as Farman rushed forward to score his first goal for the club.
Chelsea, not too gracious, went in search of a fifth. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall thought he had it in the 62nd minute, but his volley was blocked by Ben Jackson.
Then came the academy boys, with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George introduced for the final half hour. Chelsea insiders are frustrated by how much criticism they receive for bringing in big players when they have a fine production line at Cobham.
Still, the Premier League club can point to this as proof that they are not ignoring their own qualities, and George should have scored when he only had to beat Farman.
In the 69th minute, Kian Spence forced Filip Jorgensen into an acrobatic save when his free kick appeared to go into the top right corner. Jorgensen was then grateful to get the ball in his hands after a scrimmage in front of the goal area caused widespread confusion.
Enzo Maresca’s confidence in his much-changed outfit was rewarded with a confident display on Tuesday evening
This was Barrow’s best period of the game, but in the 75th minute Farman lingered with the ball. Nkunku seized the opportunity to take the ball from him and with Barrow’s keeper out of sight, claimed ownership of the match ball.
This time he celebrated his victory in his trademark style by pulling a blue balloon from his sock and blowing it up as Chelsea eased into the next round of the Carabao Cup.