Enzo Maresca has expressed concerns about Chelsea’s off-the-ball play following their significant 4-1 defeat to Celtic in a preseason match held on Saturday night. The game, hosted at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana, saw the Scottish champions establish an early lead in the first half with goals from Matt O’Reily and Kyogo Furuhashi. Under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, Celtic maintained control throughout the match, showcasing their dominance.
In the second half, Celtic continued to outmaneuver Chelsea, with Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston each contributing to their team’s growing tally. It wasn’t until the final moments of the match that Chelsea managed to score, with Christopher Nkunku converting a penalty to prevent a shutout. Despite this late goal, the loss marked Chelsea’s first defeat in their preseason schedule, following a 2-2 draw with Wrexham earlier in the week.
Maresca acknowledged that his team is grappling with issues related to possession and movement, describing them as “disoriented.” He highlighted the need for a detailed assessment of the team’s performance to address these concerns. Reflecting on the game, Maresca stressed the importance of learning from the result. He pointed out that while the scoreline was disappointing, there were aspects of the game that showed improvement, particularly in ball handling. Maresca noted that Chelsea’s ball possession was better compared to their match against Wrexham, which is a positive sign as it indicates the team’s ability to create numerous opportunities in both halves.
This analysis, however, also underscores the challenges that lie ahead for Chelsea. Maresca’s comments suggest that the team needs to refine their strategy and coordination, especially when not in possession of the ball. The defeat serves as a critical learning opportunity, highlighting the areas that require immediate attention and improvement before the regular season begins. As Chelsea continues their preseason preparations, the coaching staff and players will need to focus on rectifying these issues to ensure a stronger performance in future matches.