Chelsea’s first-team stars have suffered further ignominy after they drew to a developmental squad in a practice match at their training ground.

The youth team equalised with the last kick of the game in a 3-3 draw on a shortened pitch, in a match played over four quarters.  

It comes in the aftermath of a clear-the-air meeting at Cobham on Monday just 24 hours after the chastening 6-0 loss to Manchester City.

Chelsea first-team stars drew against a youth team in a practice match at training 

Substitutes and other unused squad players, believed to include Willian and Olivier Giroud, were involved in the clash with academy players.

Maurizio Sarri watched most of the match while those who played at the Etihad Stadium did a warm-down in the gym.

The Blues’ defeat on Sunday was their worst ever in the Premier League and caused further questions to be raised regarding the future of manager Sarri.

The Italian is facing a fight to convince the club hierarchy that his long-term future belongs at Stamford Bridge. 

Chelsea’s under-siege Italian manager Maurizio Sarri watched most of the match at Cobham

Jack Butland stood in front of the bronze statue of Gordon Banks that resides outside Stoke’s ground and gave personal reflection on why his passing will strike such a breadth and depth of emotion.

‘I’m devastated like a lot of people are but it is time to remember who he was and what he was about,’ Butland said. ‘He was an extremely kind and humble man, passionate about his football. He brought so much joy to people.

‘He is someone I consider a friend. He allowed me into his house and to meet his family, take me through his medal collection. He was fighting a horrible illness. We have lost a great.’ 

Jack Butland stood in quiet reflection in front of the statue of the late Gordon Banks

The Stoke and England goalkeeper admitted he was devastated to hear of Banks’ passing

Banks became a mentor figure to Butland, and was always willing to help the young goalkeeper

Butland is two generations on from Banks but the passage of time had not dimmed the World Cup winner’s enthusiasm for the game. They would regularly talk goalkeeping.

‘He would speak about the way he used to train with sandbags on his shoulders and how we had a fancy gym with posh weights,’ Butland added.

‘We talked about defending corners and he was fairly old school about that. He would try to get to our games even when it was far too windy and cold..’ Around Butland dozens of Stoke fans listened in and waited to pay their respects. The tributes of flowers, shirts, and messages grew throughout the day.

John Baddeley and his wife Pam, a couple in their fifties, laid a bouquet. John touched the back of the Banks monument, his eyes dewy.

Fans came to pay tribute to the club legend, leaving scarves and messages on the statue

Banks’ statue quickly became surrounded in tributes and flowers, all in Stoke City colours

Banks won the League Cup with Stoke during his career and played a huge role in doing so

‘I have met him a few times,’ John said. ‘He used to walk his dog near to us and we had the same doctor. What struck me was his modesty. He was an ordinary fella but an extraordinary talent.

‘When he played at Stoke it was as if he filled the goal and there was no way past. Everyone talks about the Pele save but for me his best was to stop Geoff Hurst’s penalty in the League Cup semi-final. Obviously Stoke went on to beat Chelsea at Wembley.

‘I went to Liverpool in 73 and to see the Kop rise to an opposing goalkeeper was something else. That went countrywide. I was in tears at home when I heard the news.’ 

Pam added: ‘In the village that he lived in, Madeley, he opened a new centre for the community and paid a lot of interest in it.’ 

Heartfelt messages were left for the World Cup winner, who meant a lot to the people

‘He is an adopted Potter,’ John said. ‘One of us.’ So it was fitting the Stoke squad and staff held a minute’s silence before Tuesday’s training session, forming a large loop around the centre circle, heads bowed.

‘We wanted to pay our respects,’ said manager Nathan Jones. ‘He is so important to the history of this club. And also his aura is still here.’ Jones had planned to see Banks with Butland recently before being informed his illness would prohibit visitors.

Owner Peter Coates said: ‘It’s not just people of my generation who know how good a goalkeeper he was – people of all ages talk about Gordon reverentially.’ Butland said: ‘In a strange way at training I had someone else’s gloves on. It felt like he was with us.’