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As B teams go, this was hardly a bargain bunch of Blues back-ups named by Enzo Maresca, even if it did involve Chelsea’s head coach making 11 changes for the visit of League Two Barrow.
It was a side that cost £415.8million to assemble and naturally, that superiority showed on a night when Christopher Nkunku helped himself to a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku cost £52m when signed by Chelsea, their other starting attackers including £89m Mykhailo Mudryk, £54m Pedro Neto and £46.3m Joao Felix. And that was before getting to the substitutes’ bench, £50m left back Ben Chilwell being brought on for his first minutes of the season after a summer in which he was put up for sale to no avail.
They watched from the away end as Nkunku netted his treble, while a free-kick from Felix led to an unfortunate own goal by Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman and a tap-in by Neto completed this scoreline.
Christopher Nkunku (right) made the most of his start against Barrow by netting a hat-trick
Joao Felix’s free-kick deflected off the back of Barrow keeper Paul Farman to give Chelsea a 3-0 advantage at the break
Pedro Neto scored his first goal for the Blues after his £53million switch from Wolves this summer
If Chelsea are to repeat last season’s run to the Carabao Cup final – in which they lost to Liverpool with Gary Neville infamously branding them the ‘billion pound bottle jobs’ – stiffer competition than Barrow will await. But Maresca praised his players for how they stood in and stood up.
‘They all deserve to play from the start in the Premier League but they are not playing in this moment,’ Maresca said. ‘But the way they take the chances when we give them minutes is fantastic. No matter if it’s five minutes, 45 or 90, they are all ready.’
Barrow boss Stephen Clemence added: ‘You don’t know what team Chelsea are going to pick when you turn up, but you know it’s going to be a good one. It can look like a different sport. The gulf is massive. I’m looking forward to getting back to League Two this weekend.’
Rory Feely’s long throw-ins had given Barrow hope of snatching an opener, but Chelsea took an eighth-minute lead with a goal that flaunted their supremacy.
It involved the most artistic assist the Carabao Cup will surely see this season as Felix, facing the Barrow defence, scooped the ball over the top for Nkunku to volley beyond Farman.
Nkunku scored again after 15 minutes, this time flicking home a cross from Malo Gusto after a back-heel by Neto.
When Gusto was fouled 25 yards from goal, Felix stood over the centrally-positioned free-kick. He curled it on to the post, only for the ball to bounce back off Farman for an own goal to make it 3-0 inside 30 minutes.
Chelsea were playing without a shirt sponsor, but are now in talks with Qatar Airways and two other major airlines to correct that. Chilwell may not have expected to ever see himself in this blue kit again after being told he should prepare to be sold or, at the very least, loaned in the summer.
Farman was caught out by Nkunku late on, who calmly turned and converted into an empty net
The Frenchman pulled out his trademark celebration after completing his three-piece at Stamford Bridge
Yet after a move failed to materialise, Maresca allowed him to return to first-team training. Chilwell came on for the second half with the supporters cheering his name as the England international even pulled on the captain’s armband.
Chelsea scored their fourth goal after 47 minutes with Nkunku playing in Mudryk, who unselfishly squared to Neto. Not feeling too merciful, Maresca’s men went in search of a fast fifth and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall thought he had it until his volley was blocked by Ben Jackson.
Then arrived the academy boys, with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George introduced for the final half hour. Chelsea insiders find it frustrating how much criticism they receive for bringing in big signings while they have a perfectly good production line at Cobham.
Yet the Premier League side can cite this as proof that they are not disregarding their own, and George looked gutted after he failed to score when he only had Farman to beat.
Enzo Maresca’s faith in his much-changed outfit was rewarded with a confident display on Tuesday night
Ben Chilwell was given a warm welcome by Chelsea fans as he came on in the second half for his appearance of the season
In the 69th minute, Kian Spence forced Filip Jorgensen into an acrobatic save when his free-kick appeared to be flying into the top corner. Jorgensen was then grateful to get his hands on the ball after a goalmouth scramble caused mass confusion.
Barrow’s best spell of the contest was brief as in the 75th minute, Farman dawdled in his own box. Nkunku seized the opportunity as he stole possession to score his third and claim ownership of the match ball for his mantle. This time, he performed his trademark celebration, pulling a blue balloon out of his sock and blowing it up to cap a fine night’s work for a B team that others could only dream of having.
