Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has conceded that his team needs significant improvement in their off-the-ball performance after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Celtic in their preseason match on Saturday night.
The Scottish champions dominated the game, scoring two goals in the first half through Matt O’Reily and Kyogo Furuhashi, and adding two more in the second half courtesy of Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston.
Chelsea’s consolation goal came from Christopher Nkunku’s late penalty.
Maresca acknowledged that his team is still struggling with possession and movement, appearing “disoriented” at times.
Despite this, he noted that Chelsea’s performance on the ball was significantly better than in their previous match against Wrexham, creating numerous chances in both halves.
The loss marks Chelsea’s first defeat of the preseason, following a 2-2 draw with Wrexham earlier in the week.
Maresca emphasized the importance of analyzing the game as a whole, rather than just focusing on the scoreline.
He recognizes that there are many areas where Chelsea needs to improve, particularly in their off-the-ball performance.
The match against Celtic was a valuable learning experience for Chelsea, highlighting the need for improvement in their possession and movement.
Maresca’s team will need to work on their defensive solidity and ability to create scoring opportunities without the ball.
As Chelsea continues their preseason preparations, Maresca will be looking to address these issues and develop a more cohesive team performance.
The upcoming matches will provide opportunities for the team to work on their weaknesses and build momentum ahead of the new season.
Chelsea’s loss to Celtic has highlighted the need for significant improvement in their off-the-ball performance.
Maresca’s team is still struggling with possession and movement, but showed signs of improvement on the ball.
The manager acknowledges the importance of analyzing the game as a whole and will be working to address Chelsea’s weaknesses in the coming weeks.
