Japan: Griezmann's Barca debut ends in defeat to Lampard's Chelsea

W/S Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde enters press conference
SOT, Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona coach (Spanish): "This was very severe game, a very intense game, the second half was very slow, the rhythm was very slow and we have two rhythms, so if you are the winner, you are the one who controls the rhythm of their opponent. We had a new players, so new ways of playing in the game and that was kind of a test for the next season. The best has been seeing the youngsters and new players getting involved. It was a good test."
M/S Journalist
SOT, Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona coach (Spanish): "He [Griezmann] has yet to get used to our game, but you can see that when he has the ball, it is very dangerous for our opponents. He always has dangerous ideas for the opponent and we expect a lot from him. It is still the first game and he has to know how we play, how we put pressure on, but it's the first game."
W/S Valverde listening to question
SOT, Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona forward (Spanish): "[I aim] to play at a high level, to get more goals than last year [inaudible]."
W/S Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach enter to press conference
SOT, Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach (English): "It's always good to come to Japan with the welcome we receive, and I think for the club that's important. It's been nice for us all as a club. Most importantly it is work and both these games have been really good exercises for us for different reasons, but they're part of their training and part of the work. What I've learnt from the players is that they're a good, strong group, a determined group and everything that has been asked of them they've done and more."
W/S Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach
SOT, Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach (English): "With N'Golo I sent him home a few days ago because I felt, even though I said how good the trip has been, for someone in their rehab it's much more beneficial to be back at Cobham with the facilities we have there. It's not a big backwards step that has been taken. He's improving and hopefully we will get him back by the time we start training towards the weekend and he will be in a position to pretty much join in with us."
W/S Journalist
SOT, Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach (English): "I thought he (Mateo Kovacic) was outstanding in the first half. I really liked Kovacic last year and I watched him a lot. When you say he had a difficult season I kind of get that, but at the same time I saw lots of things in his game that I really like. What I found here on the tour from the first day he turned up is a hungry attitude, desire to work and incredible talent on the ball."
M/S Journalist
SOT, Frank Lampard, Chelsea's head coach (English): "We've had two very competitive games here in humidity and difficult conditions which is a good test for the players. In that way the tour has helped us and served its purpose. We are in a process to be fit and ready for Manchester United which is our first game. The clock runs down pretty quickly at this stage in pre-season."
W/S Presser
SCRIPT
French forward Antione Griezmann made his Barcelona debut in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea as part of both teams' pre-seasons in Saitama, just outside of Tokyo, on Tuesday.
The €120m ($134m; £107m) star was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Jorginho early on but was able to complete the rest of the half.
"He has yet to get used to our game, but you can see that when he has the ball, it is very dangerous for our opponents," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. "He always has dangerous ideas for the opponent and we expect a lot from him."
Chelsea ran out victors thanks to two goals from English duo Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley, while Barca's Ivan Rakitic scored a consolation in additional time.
New boss Frank Lampard revealed afterwards that Griezmann's compatriot N'Golo Kante had returned home for treatment on a knee injury.
"It's not a big backwards step that has been taken. He's improving and hopefully we will get him back by the time we start training towards the weekend," he said.