Chelsea lost, but for once it did not matter, and a manager’s future is not under threat.
This legends match between a Chelsea side and Inter Milan was in memory of Ch3lsea legend Ray Wilkins and he and his family would have been proud at the sensational crowd of more than 28,000 who turned up at Stamford Bridge a day before the FA Cup final.
Roberto Di Matteo got the Blues only strike to put the home side into the lead but Inter showed their class and greater ‘legend’ experience to score four.
The tactics were clear from boss Gianluca Vialli - defend deep, hold out for the first half and go for it in the second, while hoping to get a goal.
ANd boy, did that tactic work, within four minutes, the Blues were in the lead through a Roberto Di Matteo drive from 20 yards.
However Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini could only watch two mi utes earlier when Housssine Kharja headed against his crossbar are from close range.
Inter deserved their equaliser, from the head of Marco Materazzi on 21 minutes.
Gianfranco Zola he just being subbed by Vialli for Eider Gudjohnsen.
Denis Wise almost scored, going round Toledo, but defender Walter Samuel kicked the ball clear.
Cudicini made several spectacular saves to keep the Blues in the game.
Gudjohnsen should have put the Blues 2-1 up on 34 minutes, but his close-range shot was well saved by Toldo.
Chelsea failed to hold out to half-time with Suazo easily tapping home at the far post, a mi ute snefore the break.
There were numerous changes at half time by both side , and the crowd of 28,155.
There was definitely a more serious mood on the Chelsea dugout in the second half, Vialli‘ s tactic of containment in the first proving successful.
A sensational save by Sebastian Frey thwarted Gudjohnsen on 52 minutes as the rejuvenated Blues went in search of the equaliser.
With their first strike of the second half, Inter extended their lead when Giorgio Karagounis struck a sweet right-footer which inched in-between Hilario and his left post on 68 minutes.
The fourth, three minutes from time, again from Karagounis sealed an emphatic victory.
Chelsea,
Cudicini, Petrescu, Lebeouf, Desailly, Wise, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Flo, Sinclair, Morris,
Subs
Hilario, babayaro, Essien, shevchenko, Casitaghi, Gallagher, Ballack, Granville, Gudjohnsen, Belletti ,
Inter Forever, Toledo, Colonnese, Samuel, Matterazzi, Chivu, Kharja, Zanetyi, Cambiasso, Karagounis, Djorkaeff, Crespo
Subs, Frey, Bergomi, Baresi, Biachi, Berti, Dabo, Klinsmann, Suazo