Celtic rounded off their three match trip to the USA in style with a 4-1 victory over Chelsea at Notre Dame.
It was the perfect performance eight days before the competitive action begins to the delight of the large Celtic support being treated to a Saturday afternoon kick off on home territory.
Managers are loathe to read too much into pre-season performances and results but after having a staggered return to action of his international players it looks like a very definite pattern of play has already been established by the champions.
As it was two seasons ago Kyogo Furuhashi is central to that system, under Ange Postecoglou he would get cut-backs from Jota and Daizen Maeda, on the American showings it appears that his team-mates are being encouraged to hit Kyogo with diangonals into space.
There were a few nervy moments in the opening five minutes but that highlighted that there is no rustiness about Kasper Schmeichel with a few instinctive blocks keeping Chelsea out.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute through Matt O’Riley who seems to have Virgil van Dijk qualities in being able to raise his game effortlessly as the quality of opposition increases.
It was a well worked move down the right, when the ball came back to O’Riley he simply slotted it across the keeper into the far corner of the net before the former Fulham man tried out a bizarre pensioner style celebration.
The hoops were now well in control, finding space in midfield and down the flanks, in the 32nd minute Kyogo scored from close range from a Maeda pass.
Unfortunately Maeda went off soon afterwards to be replaced by Luis Palma but Celtic remained in control upto the break.
Chelsea started the second half impressively but failed to pull a goal back, after a water break midway through the second half Rodgers made a number of changes with the youthful subs bringing fresh energy to the performance.
Celtic were back to cutting Chelsea open almost at will, in the 75th minute Palma scored at the Celtic End and treated the fans to his latest shapes as he hurdled over an advertising board.
Mikey Johnston had taken on the Kyogo role and completed the scoring when he was sent through one on one and confidently tucked the ball under the goalkeeper.
Chelsea did pull a goal back in the 89th minute from a penalty but nothing was going to detract from an outstanding week’s work in the USA that produced three wins and 12 goals.
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