July 27th 2024.
Enzo Maresca, the coach of Chelsea, expressed that his players seemed to be "confused" in their performance on both sides of the field during their match against Celtic. The friendly match, which took place on Saturday night, ended with a 4-1 victory for the Scottish champions.
Maresca admitted that there are many aspects that Chelsea needs to improve, especially when they are not in possession of the ball. He mentioned that Brendan Rodgers' team deserved the win, as they dominated the game and scored goals through Matt O'Reily, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma, and Mikey Johnston. Chelsea's only goal came from Christopher Nkunku's penalty kick in the late stage of the second half.
This defeat is Chelsea's second match in their pre-season campaign, following a 2-2 draw against Wrexham earlier in the week. Maresca acknowledged that his players are still struggling to find their rhythm, both on and off the field.
"As we all know, the result is always important," Maresca stated after the match. "But for us, it's crucial to analyze the overall performance. I must say that our performance with the ball was much better compared to our match against Wrexham. We created numerous chances in both halves."
Maresca also pointed out that there are still areas that need improvement, especially in their defensive tactics. He admitted that the team is still adapting to a new style of play, and it will take time for them to fully grasp it. However, he remains confident that with every game and training session, they will get better and be ready for the start of the new season.
In response to whether he has enough time to instill his ideas into the team before the Premier League starts, Maresca said, "We will definitely be ready for the first game, and we will continue to improve even after that. It's a challenging task, but we are taking it step by step."
Maresca also mentioned that Celtic is in a more advanced stage of their pre-season preparations, with their first Scottish Premiership match scheduled to take place next Sunday. He believes that this difference in physical condition was one of the main factors that contributed to their loss.
"It was evident that Celtic has already played three or four games, and they are about to start their season," Maresca explained. "On the other hand, we are still struggling physically, and that's something we need to work on."
In conclusion, Maresca emphasized that the team will continue to work hard and improve, both on and off the field. He remains optimistic about their progress and is determined to make Chelsea a strong and competitive team in the upcoming season.
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