Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca expressed that his players are still in the process of adapting to his tactics following a 4-1 loss to Celtic during their pre-season friendly in Indiana on Saturday.
The only bright spot for the Premier League team at the University of Notre Dame came from Christopher Nkunku, who scored a penalty in the 89th minute, just after Mikey Johnston had put Celtic ahead with their fourth goal. This match marked Maresca’s second fixture in charge, having previously drawn 2-2 against League One side Wrexham in California on Thursday.
“We need to focus on our off-the-ball play,” Maresca commented. “Sometimes, there’s confusion regarding when to play short passes versus longer ones, which is part of our development. While we maintained a high defensive line, it’s crucial to drop back when the ball is not under pressure… we’re still sorting out several aspects of our game both on and off the ball. This is normal as we’re implementing new strategies.”
Despite Chelsea having 23 shots to Celtic’s 14 and enjoying almost two-thirds of possession, Brendan Rodgers’ side was already in their fifth pre-season match after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester City.
“As we’ve noted, the result is important,” Maresca added. “We need to analyze the game overall. On the ball, the team’s performance improved significantly compared to the match against Wrexham, which is crucial since we created numerous chances both in the first and second halves. While the outcome matters, we also need to evaluate other aspects. We created opportunities, but defensively, we allowed too many, and that’s an area for improvement.”
Rodgers remarked: “It was very satisfying to see the level of talent at Chelsea. A top team requires structure and talent, but equally crucial is the mentality to win. I sensed that mentality from the first whistle to the last. Our pressing and coordinated efforts in such warm conditions were remarkable, and I’m very pleased.”
Despite the unsatisfactory results, Maresca, 44, assured that his team would be prepared for their Premier League opener against champions Manchester City on August 18.
