FLYING KAI Chelsea 6 Barnsley 0: Kai Havertz scores his first Blues hat-trick in Carabao Cup hammering of Championship side
KAI HAVERTZ took home a sanitised match ball as the prize for the first hat-trick of his career.
Chelsea’s most hyped-up signing of 2020 is also celebrating the first goals for his new club as a massive confidence booster.
Having looked off the pace on his debut at Brighton, then subbed at half time in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool, three goals will go a long way to help the young German settle in.
Boss Frank Lampard brought Havertz inside from his traditional winger role to support recalled striker Tammy Abraham.
But it was the other way around as striker Abraham provided the crucial moves for all three of the goals.
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The first came in the 29th minute - nine minutes after Abraham himself put the Premier League side ahead with a crafty goal.
The Chelsea academy graduate showed impressive cheek to nick the ball off Barnsley defender Aapo Halme on the edge of the box before turning to plant the ball home.
But his part in making Havertz look good was even better.
Allowing a pass inside from Mason Mount slide through his legs, Havertz could dart through and poke the ball to the right of Barnsley keeper Brad Collins - a former Stamford Bridge youth team player.
Havertz got his second ten minutes into the second half. This time Abraham’s nifty back heel inside the Barnsley box allowed his new team-mate to grab number two.
Kai Havertz bags his hat-trick to prove his potentialCredit: Getty Images - Getty.
Ross Barkley was handed his opportunity to impressCredit: Getty - Pool.
And with 25 minutes left Abraham’s first time through ball enabled Havertz to run clear and round the keeper to claim a maiden treble in a game.
He was substituted soon after as reshuffled Chelsea ran riot in a match that will give Lampard much to think about.
Abraham is going to be under severe pressure from now on following the arrival of £48m Timo Werner. Cup games like this may be his only chance to shine for a while.
With eight changes to the team which lost to Liverpool on Sunday, there was plenty for Lampard to ponder.
There was also a debut for illustrious Brazilian Thiago Silva, who got an hour among eight changes to the Chelsea side which lost to Liverpool on Sunday.
Silva, 36 two days ago, played his most recent game in the Champions League final last month against Bayern Munich.
He claimed there would be no comedown facing more lowly opponents and this game would have been much more enjoyable - because he won.
Silva claims he can make a team which struggled to defend last season, dovetail and stop the goals flooding in at the back.
He was put under pressure for the first 45 minutes of his hour long bow as Championship Barnsley kept up the pressure with decent quality football despite conceding regularly.
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