Chelsea respond to Reece James’ previous comments as they ease past Djurgarden in Stockholm with professional display | OneFootball

Chelsea dispatched of Djurgarden in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final, and will welcome the Swedes to Stamford Bridge next week for the second leg of a tie that already seems over.

Despite the 4-1 scoreline, the atmosphere at the 3Arena was palpable, with fans creating a mood that had the stadium almost bouncing.

The game started quickly and with mistakes from both sides. Enzo Maresca fielded something of an experimental team, opting for youngster Tyrique George up front. But the 19-year-old struggled to impose himself on the game in a central role.

Jadon Sancho broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, when a cross-field ball from Enzo Fernandez found him in space inside the box. He took a few touches to compose himself and then curled an effort into the right-hand corner of the goal, which was helped over the line via a slight deflection.

The Blues then began to dominate proceedings, keeping the ball and the home players at bay. Maresca was asked before the game by a Swedish reporter about Chelsea’s squad being worth 44 times more than Djurgarden’s, according to TransferMarkt and as they held the ball, not allowing their opponents to get a grip of the game, that disparity started to show.

Sancho was the main man in the first half, regularly able to create separation from Adam Stahl, and the Chelsea players looked to find him often.

Madueke doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time, finishing a chance that was again set up by Fernandez in clinical fashion, curling it in from the edge of the box.

Chelsea were accused of “disrespecting” the competition in their last Conference League game by the club’s own captain Reece James, but they could not be accused of that here.

The performance was professional, and the result hugely positive. They will now return to Stamford Bridge with a feeling of safety, and the comfort blanket of a three-goal cushion.

It was Nicolas Jackson who delivered the third, and fourth. After a goalless drought that spanned 13 games, he has now scored three in his last two.

Djurgarden did register themselves on the scoresheet when Isak Mulugeta headed home in the 68th minute. Even if it seemed the writing was already on the wall, the home fans took the opportunity to celebrate as though it were their side who had an unassailable lead.

The only negative for Enzo Maresca will be that Cole Palmer was again unable to get a goal. Although he did get the assist for Jackson’s first, it is now 18 games without a goal for the Englishman – a worrying statistic as the Blues bid to secure Champions League qualification.