Chelsea Struggles in Pre-Season Opener Under New Boss Maresca
- Chelsea faced a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Celtic after a 2-2 draw with League One Wrexham in their opening friendlies.
- Coach Enzo Maresca expressed concerns about player confusion on the pitch, both offensively and defensively.
- Off-the-pitch issues regarding players like Enzo Fernandez and Trevoh Chalobah also highlighted the challenges during this summer of change.
In his first match in charge, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the challenges of implementing a new play-out-from-the-back style, which led to defensive errors in a 2-2 draw against League One side Wrexham. Maresca, who previously enjoyed success with Parma and Leicester City, emphasized that conceding goals is a normal part of the transition process as the team adapts to his tactics. The match highlighted vulnerabilities in Chelsea's defense, with both Wrexham and Celtic forwards exploiting spaces behind the backline. Maresca's tactical innovations include moving Reece James into a midfield role, raising questions about the captain's position under the new regime. Additionally, the goalkeeping situation remains uncertain, with the potential signing of Filip Jorgensen indicating a shift away from Robert Sanchez, who was brought in for £25 million last summer. Djordje Petrovic, who took over as the starting goalkeeper last season, is also sidelined due to injury, further complicating the team's defensive setup. As Chelsea prepares for a series of challenging pre-season fixtures, including matches against Club America, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, Maresca is eager to see improvements from his squad. The upcoming matches will serve as crucial tests ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester City on August 18, where Chelsea will aim to silence critics and establish a strong foundation for the season ahead.