Rapid Vienna 2 Chelsea 0: Antonio Conte loses first game in charge after a shoddy defensive display
ANTONIO CONTE must beef up his defence if Chelsea are to serious challenge for the Premier League this season.
The Italian boss got off to a losing start to life as Chelsea boss in Austria – and it was poor defending that will have surely alarmed him yesterday evening.
Brazilian Joelinton was able to waltz past Asmir Begovic to net after just eight minutes having been left completely unmarked.
And then Tomi scored with eight minutes left to make sure Rapid Vienna christened their brand-spanking new Stadion Allianz with an impressive victory.
But at least Conte has N’Golo Kante coming in as his defensive-midfield enforcer in a couple of weeks after the Frenchman completed his £29million move from champions Leicester.
It was Chelsea who dominated for large parts but without really troubling Rapid keeper Jan Novota.
Italian coach Conte was animated throughout – constantly cajoling his team and encouraging them to move the ball quickly.
He fielded a mix-and-match starting line-up for his first match in charge since taking over at Chelsea.
John Terry captained the Blues for a match that saw opponents Rapid Veim open their new 28,000-seater stadium – Stadion Allianz.
And the hosts took a shock lead when striker Joelinton cashed in on some hesitant defending to round keeper Begovic and slot home.
But Chelsea almost hit back when a Willian cross took a deflection and rolled inches wide of Jan Novota’s goal. Then Diego Costa shot wide from a tight angle after being played in by the Brazilian.
Steffan Hofmann should have doubled the lead but he volleyed wide after getting in front of Terry – and Ruben Loftus-Cheek blew a chance, failing to get his shot awa, after being teed up by Nemanja Matic.
Conte brought on Oscar and 19-year-old rookie left-back Ola Aina at the break.
Victor Moses – back from his loan spell at West Ham – was one of the big pluses for Chelsea and he should have been awarded a penalty after he was sent tumbling.
Second-half sub Nathaniel Chalobah impressed and he managed to drive forward to get a shot away that was parried by keeper Novota.
But the Austrian side sealed victory when Tomi slotted home from close range after being teed up by Thomas Murg.
Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic, Djilobodji, Terry, Rahman (Aina 46), Mikel (Chalobah 58), Matic (Traore 75), Loftus-Cheek (Oscar 46), Moses (Atsu 81), Willian (Kenedy 70), Costa (Remy 70).
Not used: Blackman, Delac, Hector, Miazga, Cuevas