Chelsea 5 - Nottingham Forest 1: Musonda, Batshuayi and Kenedy bag as Blues run riot

SENT home in disgrace from the club’s tour of China after his racist tweets upset the most populous nation on earth, you might have expected Kenedy to keep a low profile last night.

KenedyGETTY

Kenedy scored the opener for Chelsea

Word was in the summer that the 21-year-old Brazilian would never kick a ball in anger again for Chelsea after that major diplomatic incident. He was on his way to Newcastle on loan at one point, but as transfer targets were not found, he had to be kept. And lo and behold, there he was, back in the first team last night.

One of his Tweets on the tour had read “Porra China”, which loosely translates as “**** China”. Another pictured an asleep security guard saying “Wake Up China. You idiot” The People’s Daily were not amused.

So you might expect a fiery editorial today, after Kenedy certainly caught the hapless Nottingham Forest defence asleep as he grabbed Chelsea’s opening goal in the 12th minute at Stamford Bridge. 

Michy Batshuayi grabbed a hat-trick, and exciting youngster Charly Musonda added a goal to crush any faint hopes the Championship club  might have had. 

Conte rang the changes as he gave a first start to 20-year-old forward Musonda and had Ethan Ampadu, 17, on the bench. Eden Hazard was also brought in for his first start in a strong looking line-up.

Forest manager Mark Warburton, whose side are 10th in the Championship, made eight changes from the team that lost 2-1 at home to Wolves on Saturday.

The night was the 13th anniversary of the death of Brian Clough, the man who took the club to such incredible heights, including four League Cups along the way.

Old Big ’Ead would not have been overly pleased with this one though. Inside 12 minutes Conte’s side were ahead, as Antonio Rudiger advanced and crossed to the far post and there was Kenedy to volley home low with Forest defenders noticeably absent without leave.

Five minutes later it was two, as Forest failed to clear and Hazard poked his pass through for Batshuayi to stab the ball past Stephen Henderson.

Eden and Kylian Hazard score amazing goals in Chelsea training

Forest went close when Kieran Dowell hit the bar with a curling free-kick but Forest had shot themselves in the foot conceding those early goals.

Musonda was quick and elusive with his runs and Kenedy operating in acres of space on the left. Tiemoue Bakayoko then tested Henderson with a rasping drive from 30 yards.

Five minutes before the break though, Musonda had his moment. Cesc Fabregas fed the Belgium Under 21 striker, once again in too much space in the Forest penalty area and the youngster rifled a low drive past Henderson into the far corner.

He nearly had another just before half-time, as he nipped the ball past Henderson, but the ball dribbled just wide. Chelsea should have had a fourth when Hazard found space on the edge of the box and curled a shot against a post.

Charly MusondaGETTY

Charly Musonda scored the third goal of the match in the first half

The club found out yesterday that were under investigation by Fifa for their dealings in signing young foreign players – as are some other Premier League clubs. Musonda is not understood to be one of those players.

Hazard, though, was simply too much for Forest to deal with, and when he dribbled round Henderson he generously rolled the ball back for Belgium team-mate Batshuayi to slot his second into an empty net.

Ampadu, at 17 years and six days old, was then thrown on, becoming the ninth youngest player to play for the club.  He was signed from Exeter, for who he had made his debut aged 15 last season. Chelsea are still in dispute with the League Two club over the fee. 

Batshuayi bundled in his hat-trick as Kenedy’s drive came back off the bar to wrap things up before Tendai Darikwa gave Forest scant consolation with a goal in added time.

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