Chelsea Beat LAFC 2-0 in Club World Cup Opener, But Levi Colwill Demands More
Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, securing all three points in their group stage opener. However, despite the winning start, defender Levi Colwill has voiced concerns about the team’s overall performance, urging the squad to raise their standards as the tournament progresses.
Blues Secure Win, But Performance Draws Mixed Reactions
Playing in front of a modest crowd of just 22,000 in a stadium built for far more, Chelsea did enough to see off LAFC with goals in each half. Pedro Neto opened the scoring after a brilliant assist from Nicolas Jackson, while Enzo Fernández sealed the result in the second half thanks to a clever setup from new signing Liam Delap.
Despite the goals and clean sheet, the match revealed areas of concern—especially in the second half, where Chelsea appeared to lose concentration and allowed LAFC several dangerous opportunities. Only a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez preserved the Blues' lead and denied the American side a way back into the game.
Levi Colwill Calls for Improvement Despite Clean Sheet
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website post-match, Levi Colwill acknowledged the importance of starting the tournament with a win but admitted that the team is capable of much better.
“The most important thing was to get the win and that’s what we’ve done,” Colwill said. “It wasn’t the perfect performance, but in tournament football, you just need to win.”
As part of the defensive unit that kept LAFC scoreless, Colwill emphasized the value of a clean sheet but warned that Chelsea must tighten up if they want to succeed in the knockout rounds.
“We’ve got amazing attackers who always score goals, so for us defenders, the focus is on keeping clean sheets. Of course, they had their chances, but hopefully next game we can minimise them.”
Chelsea Eyes Improvement Ahead of Tougher Fixtures
With the FIFA Club World Cup’s unforgiving format, every match is critical. Colwill noted that as Chelsea faces unfamiliar opponents from different continents, adaptability and focus will be key.
“We’re coming up against different teams, and that will be a huge challenge. We’ll enjoy the experience and try to learn and grow with each game.”
Head coach Enzo Maresca will be pleased with the result but knows there’s work to do. Chelsea's opening win puts them in a strong position in the group, but more polished performances will be required if they’re to lift the Club World Cup trophy for the first time since 2021.