Roman Abramovich met with Frank Lampard here in Salzburg for the first time since handing him the Chelsea job.
The Russian billionaire – who last watched the side in the Europa League final three months ago – was treated with an impressive display with £50million Christian Pulisic combining superbly with Ross Barkley to rip Red Bull Salzburg apart.
Pulisic scored two – one from an outstanding Barkley through ball – and won a penalty from which Barkley converted. Pedro volleyed the fourth with an outrageous back-heel.
Lampard revealed when he took over from Maurizio Sarri early in July that he had not spoken to Abramovich during negotiations.
Any concerns that the Blues owner may have had at handing a rookie boss the keys to his prize asset will have been eased with this performance, Chelsea’s fourth win in six ahead of the new season.
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They were slick, quick and clinical in front of goal. Red Bull Salzburg, one game into their Austrian League campaign, had no answer.
It might just be this season that Lampard’s Blues are more entertaining than the Sarri which took advantage of a collapse by the teams above them to reach the top four and lifted the Europa League courtesy of Arsenal ’s abysmal defending.
Chelsea’s first came when Pulisic was put through by Pedro and the former Dortmund man shot low into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later his pace earned him a penalty when he was bundled over by Rasmus Kristensen. Barkley made it 2-0 to become the club’s joint-top scorer in pre-season with Mason Mount.
Six minutes after that Pulisic, put through but Barkley, netted the third with another fine finish.
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Substitute Jerome Onguene headed a consolation five minutes after the break. But Pedro reinforced Chelsea’s superiority 12 minutes later with that sumptuous finish so good even the home fans applauded.
Salzburg grabbed a second five minutes from when Takumi Minamino converted after substitute Davide Zappacosta brought down Zlatko Junuzovic.
Chelsea responded within three minutes. Another substitute, Michy Batshuayi, rammed in at the second attempt after his effort was saved by Cican Stankovic.
The hosts then grabbed another consolation as Minamino grabbed a second in stoppage time.
