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Chelsea's business planning and HR practices might puzzle everyone except their visionary strategists, but they still deliver exciting entertainment. Perhaps the method behind the perceived madness is clear: if you can’t always be the best, at least be entertaining and captivating. This approach was evident in a standout performance by the team.
Despite managing 191 years of contracts across 42 players, Chelsea boasts genuine, top-tier talent. Cole Palmer, with a goal and three assists, shone brightly, particularly in a game that seemed on the verge of slipping away in the first half. In the second half, their attacking players tore through Wolves, reveling in the opportunity to dominate an opponent that appeared significantly weaker than last season.
Noni Madueke faced boos from the moment he stepped onto the field, thanks to his controversial Instagram post about Wolverhampton. He responded in spectacular fashion with a 14-minute hat-trick, with each goal set up by the brilliant Cole Palmer. In his celebration after the third goal, Madueke credited Palmer for helping him secure the match ball. For now, Chelsea can bask in their status as a dynamic football team, rather than the trading platform they're often criticized as, much to the delight of their new manager.
Chelsea's lineup reflected the BlueCo ownership's approach. With Raheem Sterling working on his fitness separately, Mykhailo Mudryk, who is less consistent, took his place. Additionally, Romeo Lavia, another project player, was absent due to a hamstring injury that had plagued him last season.
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The ongoing Nicolas Jackson project—transforming raw talent into a marketable asset—moves forward. With every Chelsea player having a potential price tag, Jackson’s value rose with his early goal, which came from a header off a Palmer corner and a deflection from Matheus Cunha. Jackson also played a crucial role in setting up Palmer’s goal.
Pedro Neto, Wolves’ standout from last season when fit, was left on the Chelsea bench until halftime. Gary O’Neil might come to regret selling Neto and his former defensive anchor, Maximilian Kilman, especially given the signs of a potential second-half collapse. Both players were necessary departures as Wolves strive to balance profit and sustainability. While Wolves showed attacking promise in the first half, their defense was far from solid. They started their first home game of the season with energy, and Yerson Mosquera, Kilman’s replacement, missed a header that should have been converted.
Wolves then applied significant pressure, with Cunha leading the charge. The Brazilian almost completed a full-field move by scoring from Jørgen Strand Larsen’s pass, only to have the goal ruled out for offside—VAR confirmed the call. The action was non-stop, with Palmer's shot off-target, Madueke forcing a save from José Sá, and Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde stumbling while trying to reach a cross. Mudryk dazzled with a solo run through the middle, and neither midfield offered much protection. Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo, despite their talent, continue to appear mismatched in midfield. For Wolves, Mario Lemina excelled in making forward runs and delivering precise passes from deep but similarly struggled to contain Chelsea's attacks.
A prime example of the first-half chaos was Wolves' opening goal: Rayan Aït-Nouri burst through Chelsea’s defense after Caicedo lost possession, setting up Cunha’s equalizer. There was no offside this time, but referee Rob Jones had to step in when Jackson and Nunes clashed during the restart.
Wolves and O’Neil sensed an opportunity for a quick second goal, but Chelsea regained the lead with a route-one goal that had a touch of class. Robert Sánchez launched a long ball to Jackson, whose flick was volleyed over a despairing Sá by Palmer. Chelsea’s star man, cool and composed, finished and celebrated with his usual calm. The question was whether they could hold onto that lead. Aït-Nouri’s free-kick, Bellegarde’s flick, and Strand Larsen’s volley answered that question, bringing the score level at halftime after a frenetic 45 minutes.
In the second half, Chelsea continued to dazzle with their attacking play, while Wolves struggled to mount a comeback. Neto’s introduction at the break was met with warm applause from most fans, though a few boos accompanied his touches.
The damage came from the opposite wing, with Palmer setting up Madueke three times. Madueke hit the post on his first attempt, scored with a second, and found the net again when Wolves failed to protect against his third. Madueke celebrated in front of the Chelsea fans, and Aït-Nouri, exposed by the strikes, was substituted. Further frustration for Wolves came when Lemina’s volley was ruled out by VAR—a decision the Wolves hierarchy had attempted to ban. The pain continued as Neto provided an assist for Jõao Félix, whose goal capped off a surprising rout that, while unexpected, was thoroughly enjoyed by many.