Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has lamented the early goals which made his side’s US tour meeting with Manchester City “very strange” on their way to a 4-2 defeat in Ohio.
Erling Haaland capitalised on calamitous defending to put City 2-0 ahead after five minutes with two goals in two minutes against their Premier League rivals.
A minute after Oscar Bobb had struck to make it 3-0, Haaland seized on Malo Gusto’s’s error to ensure replies by Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke were only consolations for new boss Maresca.
Enzo reacts to our defeat in Ohio.🎙️#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/ZjOgcvpNAR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 4, 2024
Chelsea vs Man City: Team ‘good’
“I think the plan was good in terms of the way we wanted to attack and the way we wanted to defend,” said Maresca, who claimed a slow pitch at the Ohio Stadium “didn’t help” his players as their trip to the US ended in one win in four matches.
“In the first half, less the first five minutes when we conceded two goals, the team was good but it was a very strange game because you plan the game in one way and then you concede two goals which completely changes the dynamic.
“We don’t like to lose games but in this moment, the main focus for me is to see different things and try to be ready for the official games at the beginning of the season.”
🤝#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/7ULiHDTrTj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 4, 2024
Maresca: Chelsea ‘good’
After securing sixth place in the Premier League with a late surge in 2023/24, Chelsea are adapting to Maresca’s methods following the former Leicester City manager’s appointment in June as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor.
“We have to learn things,” said Maresca, explaining that he had deployed Malo in a role higher up the pitch and moved Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inside.
“More than the goals we conceded, we need to learn when you concede one, you cannot then concede a goal two minutes later. In the second half, we conceded and then a few minutes we conceded another one.
“This is something that I just said to the players we need to learn. When you concede, it is the moment when you need to become stronger and not concede another.
“Sometimes you need to understand a bit better when we play back, when we play inside and when to play outside.
“After two or three weeks, this is completely normal. Less the first five minutes, the game for me was good.”
Chelsea fixtures, schedule
Chelsea play Real Madrid in Charlotte on August 7 (12am) before returning to England for a home friendly against Inter Milan four days later (3pm).
Former Cityzens assistant coach Maresca’s first competitive match in charge will be at home to the reigning Premier League champions on August 18 (4.30pm).
