Guangzhou Pharmaceutical 0 Chelsea 4

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea reign began with a comfortable win over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical as Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored to secure the win over the Chinese Super League side, reports the Daily Mail.
The Blues dominated the first game of their five-game pre-season tour of Asia and Russia at Guangzhou Olympic Stadium, with the only concern for Scolari seeing new signing Jose Bosingwa substituted after 20 minutes with a slight thigh injury after a brief but impressive debut in the right-back position.

Scolari fielded a strong starting side, with Deco making his debut in midfield alongside Lampard, who played the entire game, with Joe Cole and Andriy Shevchenko sitting the game out because of minor injuries.
Lampard and Deco pulled shots wide in the first few minutes as Chelsea completely took control with the Portugal international dominating midfield and international team mate Bosingwa looking lively pushing forward down the right flank.
Michael Essien also drilled a shot just over the bar after 14 minutes.

The Blues were rewarded as they opened the scoring six minutes later when Mikel Jon Obi's defence-splitting through-ball caught the home side flat-footed, allowing Kalou to coast in unmarked to fire into the bottom corner across Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai.

Guangzhou came into the game as the game progressed, to the delight of the passionate 35,000 crowd, but Chelsea's chances continued to come as Essien was denied from close range before the Ghanaian saw a snap shot from outside the area saved by Li.
As half-time approached, Nicolas Anelka hit the post from inside the area, while at the other end Petr Cech turned a free-kick from Xu Liang onto his upright.
Following five half-time changes, substitute Wayne Bridge saw his deflected shot hit the post before Lampard showed brilliant vision to double the lead by chipping Li from 30 yards, the 'keeper only just outside his six-yard area.

Half-time substitute Florent Malouda shot wide twice in quick succession before Di Santo, a second-half substitute, struck the upright after threading his way through on the edge of the area. With 12 minutes left Frenchman Malouda broke down the Guangzhou left and pulled a low cross across the face of the goal for a sliding Di Santo to convert.
Wright-Phillips sealed the win in the closing minutes with a shot on the turn from inside the area.

Essien Signs Five Year Deal

Michael Essien handed Chelsea another major boost by signing up for another five years in a deal worth around £80,000-a week, according to the Daily Mail.
Essien, who joined from Lyon for £24.4m three years ago, committed his future to Chelsea until 2013 despite interest from Real Madrid and Inter Milan this summer.
The 25-year-old only signed a five-year contract last year, but such is Chelsea's determination to keep him that they made him an improved offer.
Essien, established as one of the best midfielders in the world during his time at Stamford Bridge, is now looking to help the club bounce back from the disappointments of last season, failing to win a trophy for the first time in four years.
The deal for Essien is a strong message of intent from the Blues and makes him the third player to have agreed new terms in a week after Wayne Bridge and Petr Cech.
The Ghana international, who is set to play in Chelsea's first game of their pre-season tour in Asia against Chinese side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical tomorrow, is now looking forward to competing for his place in Chelsea's midfield.
With Frank Lampard, Deco, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel as well as Essien in contention, Manager Luiz Felip Scolari has quite a choice.
Essien is happy that Deco, who joined from Barcelona this summer for £7.9m, has arrived and believes it will improve his game.
He said: "When the competition gets keener it brings out the best in players. Last season we signed new players and people thought I could lose my place. But I fought and stayed to maintain it."

Maka Moves On To PSG

Claude Makelele has moved on a free transfer to Paris Saint Germain.

After five years at the Bridge the player who made the midfield holding position his own, many pundits calling it 'the Makelele role', has moved back to France to see out his illustrious career.

His contribution to the Blues success should not be underestimated and it is uncertain to what effect Mikel or Essien can step into his vacant role. Remember that Real Madrid had a couple of seasons of underachievement when he left for the Bridge.

Thanks for your contribution Maka and the best of luck for the future.

Kaka Keen On Blues Move

Kaka's advisor, Diogo Kotscho, insists that the Brazilian is desperate to join Chelsea, according to skysports.com.
The Milan playmaker has long been touted as a potential summer transfer target for the Blues, with reports now suggesting that discussions have taken place between the two clubs in regards to a possible £80million switch.
The 26-year-old was always seen as being an unobtainable object of desire, with the Rossoneri unwilling to lose a player who provides their greatest creative influence.
However, with Ronaldinho having now been unveiled at San Siro and with their financial difficulties well-publicised, the Italian giants appear willing to enter into negotiations with potential suitors.
Should the World Player of the Year move to Stamford Bridge he would be reunited with Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who handed him his international debut as a 20-year-old back in 2002 and included him a Brazil squad which went on to lift the World Cup later that year.
Any deal seems certain to break the world record transfer fee, which currently stands at £46million, but Kotscho is confident that a deal can be done which will allow Kaka to take on a new challenge in the Premier League next season.

"Real Madrid offered 90 million euros (£71million) last summer and Milan did not even think about the bid," Kaka's personal assistant told The Guardian.
"This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen.
"Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved.
"The move would represent a significant increase in Kaka's salary, on top of the 10 per cent transfer fee that goes straight to the player anyway - some 15 million euros (£12million).
"Chelsea are the club to be at right now. They are building a team to win everything."

Ben Haim Off To Eastlands

Tal Ben Haim will bring his miserable 12 months at Chelsea to an end next week and join Manchester City for a fee £5million, according to the Mail online.
He has agreed a four-year contract worth around £40,000-a-week and is looking forward to a new challenge.
Ben Haim, 26, joined on a free transfer from Bolton last summer, but struggled for form at the start of the campaign and barely featured once Jose Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant as manager in September.

He made just 13 appearances and was fined two weeks’ wages after criticising fellow Israeli Grant.
He said: 'If I knew Grant was going to be the coach I would have signed for another club. It was Mourinho who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me.

'The fact is while Mourinho was the coach, I played most of the games and people who know me know I would not have come here to be a reserve. I knew nothing good would come for me with Grant as Chelsea coach.'
Ben Haim has been training with the squad but will miss next week’s pre-season tour of China.
Right-back Juliano Belletti, is wanted by Benfica on loan.
Belletti joined from Barcelona for £4m but the arrival of Jose Bosingwa for £16.2m in May means he is surplus to requirements.