Vintage Blues blast Bordeaux

Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0

So often in the past at Stamford Bridge, there has been a sense of déjà-vu about Chelsea’s performances in the early stages of the Champions League, as they ruthlessly swept past opponents without a second thought for entertainment.

But, to the relief of owner Roman Abramovich, who yearns for magical rather than mechanical, there are signs he has finally found a manager on the same wavelength after they opened their 200-9 campaign with a -0 victory over French club Bordeaux.

We know that we made many mistakes in the second half,” said the Brazilian afterwards. “We tried to attack without the ball and with no good connections. But most important for us is the result.

“It is important to start with a win because in this competition you never know what will happen. You see that Cluj beat Roma. That is a warning for us for the next game. It is important to win and if you play well that is better, but today we did not play every well.

“They make many mistakes when they have the ball. When you play in the Champions League and are winning 2-0 at half-time you need to work the ball and control the game. You don’t need to win 5-0, it is still the same three points.”

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, a World Cup-winning centre-back with France, was left to rue his side’s poor defending.

He said: “When you look back and analyse the match you have to say we were up against a superior team but we showed them too much respect.

“Maybe we held back a little bit. We weren’t aggressive enough. The scoreline says it all.”

The result was two late goals from Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka to add to two in the first half from Frank Lampard and Joe Cole — leaving Blues fans to face the traffic jams and packed late-night tubes with a spring in their step as they headed into the cool west London air.

Those fans have become used to managers and politicians who over-promise and underachieve but perhaps things are changing.

Avram Grant may have told us how his team were playing better football while Jose Mourinho made no apology for simply winning at all costs. But at last under Scolari, Chelsea, to paraphrase politicians across the globe, are delivering change — real change.

In the space of four games it has become clear how the new-look Chelsea will differ to the Mourinho model and it promises to be pleasing to the eye.

Ironically, Scolari provided the first sign of true change yesterday by opting to field the same team for the second match in a row.

He was rewarded with an encouraging first-half display in which Chelsea went 2-0 up and could have scored several more.

The first came when Jose Bosingwa, curled a first-time cross from the right flank for Lampard to head home unchallenged at the far post.

It’s hard to remember the last time Lampard scored with his head, but Chelsea must be doing something right in training because Joe Cole, another who prefers it on the floor, rose to knock home a Lampard corner for 2-0 on the half-hour mark.

Lampard could, and should, have extended Chelsea’s lead before half-time when he missed an astonishing chance from close range.

The chances continued to build up after the break when Anelka fired into the side netting and Malouda’s low cross eluded everyone following a lightning-quick break.

There was never any doubt about the final result but Scolari’s frustration showed on the touchline as his team lost momentum.

His reaction was to bring on Michael Ballack and Julian Belletti and, with Scolari waving furiously from the bench, Chelsea added two late goals.

The victory completed a satisfying day for Chelsea after John Terry’s red card against Manchester City had earlier been overturned by the FA, allowing him to face Manchester United on Sunday.

“I am surprised but I am satisfied,” said Scolari. “It is the first time since I have been a coach that the referees decision has been changed.

“In other countries the referee is the god and after his decision is final.”

With Terry in the fold and Chelsea in such irresistible form it’s easy to imagine them gaining revenge for their Champions League Final defeat by beating United on Sunday. And that’s the kind of change Chelsea fans really want to see.

CHELSEA: Cech; Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole; J Cole (Belletti), Lampard, Mikel, Deco (Ballack), Malouda (Kalou); Anelka.

BORDEAUX: Rame; Jurietti, Diawarra, Planus, Placente; Gouffran, Diarra, Gourcuff, Fernando (Ducasse , Wendel; Chamakh.

Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)