The first game of pre-season - notorious in its ability to mislead on future performance levels as the effects of short-term pain for long-term gain kick in.

The hard work in the days before is all about preparing for several months down the line and can leave legs feeling heavy and drained.

Though Chelsea's July opener in Guangzhou may have lacked the zip of a Premier League encounter in November, it was a tasty appetiser for the long season ahead with good goals and good moments.

A calm and collected Felipe Scolari was happy enough after his first Chelsea game.

'I was relaxed. It is always good to win the game but it doesn't matter much the result, the team is not ready yet. They have some difficulties physically and this they will sort out.

'I think it is normal for the first game. The players have been training well for two weeks, strong training that is more for fitness than for the technical side.'

There were contrasting fortunes for his two new signings, both catching the eye early on as they attacked down the right but while Deco completed over an hour, José Bosingwa came off on 19 minutes with what appeared to be a muscle strain.

The injury will be assessed over the next 24 hours and it was also reported that Joe Cole could be back for the second pre-season game on Saturday having missed this one with a niggle. Andriy Shevchenko is unlikely to be quite ready as he nears full fitness.

Though reluctant to single out individuals, Scolari could not help but reserve a few complements for Deco's display.

'All the players need to make a difference in the season because the season is very difficult for us, but Deco is a fantastic player and in this team I think he helps his friends to play more than they play in the last season.

'Sometimes he is a different player because his style is different but it's a style, with all the players together, that is fantastic for us.'

Salomon Kalou, scorer of the 19th minute opener, also anticipates nine months of enterprising play ahead. Speaking after the game, he said:

'I think this year we are going to play more attacking football, and I am confident everyone is motivated to give their best because there is a new manager. It will be an interesting season for us.'

On a day when the age of Chelsea's squad has entered the debate, it was noteworthy that in Kalou, Lampard, Di Santo and Wright-Phillips, the four goals were spread across a 22, a 30, a 19 and a 26-year-old.

'I think I have players with experience and I think I have some young boys in my team and I have players who have experience in the Premier League,' observed Scolari.