After the first match of his career as Chelsea manager it seems that Luiz Felipe Scolari’s hardest job this season could be picking the team. The Brazilian had complained on Friday that his preseason plans had been disrupted, with Michael Essien joining Didier Drogba in the treatment room, but even those supposed setbacks brought unexpected rewards.

Essien’s replacement, Joe Cole, scored the opening goal and Deco shrugged off a knee problem to cap a superlative Chelsea debut by scoring the fourth, with the home side exuding authority and class at all points in between. Perhaps Scolari could do with more injuries, such as the ankle knock that forced Michael Ballack to limp off towards the end of the first half, to help to clarify his plans.

Scolari is wise enough to realise that life will not always be so straightforward as this stroll against a Portsmouth side who were beaten before kick-off, with the new manager accepting that Chelsea will have to improve to win the Premier League.

“It was the perfect start and more than I expected,” Scolari said. “The Chelsea fans saw a beautiful game and three points, but we have to keep this going. Every game, every week. I don’t know if we can, but we’ll try.

“Portsmouth didn’t think we’d play like that and we were more aggressive than last season. I think they were surprised by our team. Manchester United will not be scared as they’re not our opponents next week. Maybe Wigan will be.” Portsmouth will have to improve if they are to come close to replicating last season’s eighth-place finish, but to his credit Harry Redknapp, their manager, did not hide his admiration for Chelsea.

“They were just too bright,” he said. “Their movement was too much for us and we couldn’t stay with it. Last year we played 4-5-1 and were fantastic away from home, but I made a rod for my own back by playing two strikers. I don’t think you can play 4-4-2 here. You get overloaded in mid-field. That’s what happened to us.

“Scolari picked a very attacking team and the movement within their system was fantastic. They don’t just stick one up and sit back, they run from everywhere. If people aren’t in position, they make a new position.” Deco was the outstanding player, but Scolari demonstrated his shrewd understanding of psychology by lavishing most praise upon Nicolas Anelka, who scored his first goal at Stamford Bridge.

“I’m happy with Anelka,” Scolari said. “I said to him: ‘Today you will have three or four chances. You need to make one or two goals for me and for other people. I want people to believe in you more than before.’ He played very well and it’s good for him to score. He’ll need to score more, but it’s good for his confidence.”

The only things Scolari got wrong all afternoon were his predictions and his prematch claim that Portsmouth are capable of winning the Premier League looks ever more laughable. Not even Redknapp would back that tip.

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