Maresca defends high-risk Chelsea style after draw against Wrexham

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Enzo Maresca has reaffirmed his commitment to his playing style, staying calm and focused after not winning against League One team Wrexham in his debut game as Chelsea manager.

Once the Blues were ahead 1-0 at halftime because of a goal by Christopher Nkunku, they ended up falling behind with only 20 minutes left in the game because of some poor defending. However, a last-minute goal from Lesley Ugochukwu saved the manager from embarrassment.

"We have only been working together for a couple of weeks and it's crucial for both the staff and the players to start recognizing the team's identity. That was evident tonight," Maresca commented at the end of the game, highlighting the bright side of a typically unexciting pre-season match.

Cracking a solid defense was proving to be difficult for Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea, and Maresca has not been able to figure out a way to do so in his first few weeks as manager. Even though they had 75% of the possession and completed 700 passes during the match, the Blues only managed to get three shots on goal.

"No matter who we are up against, it's tough to break down a team with all their players behind the ball. It's a challenge to find openings and create chances," he explained. Maresca also acknowledged that playing from the back can lead to defensive mistakes, as seen in two errors in the second half. This is an aspect that Chelsea needs to work on and improve.

One of the dangers of starting your game play from a defensive position is the risk of conceding goals. Teams that prefer to build up from the back may face challenges, but the key is to prioritize scoring more goals than letting in. It's important to weigh the options and strategize on how best to approach conceding a goal while focusing on achieving a higher goal-scoring rate.

He went on to say: "We definitely have room for improvement in many areas, but we have only been working together for two weeks. It was crucial tonight to begin to see the team's identity, and I believe that identity is already taking shape."

Maresca switched things up significantly during half-time, giving opportunities to new players and young talents from the academy. One notable debut was made by Marc Guiu, a promising 18-year-old forward signed from Barcelona. Additionally, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia returned to the starting line-up after spending most of the 2023/24 season as substitutes, and both players made a strong impression.

Right now, it is crucial for them to have playing time and make the most of every practice. Going a whole year without playing can be tough on them mentally. They need a spark, some energy, and playing 45 minutes will benefit both of them.

Even though the draw was not the perfect beginning Maresca was expecting when he joined Chelsea, he is staying calm and patient with his new team.

The outcome is always crucial for us, but at this point, we also need to consider other factors. Our goal tonight was to give each player 45 minutes of playing time. It is too soon to start thinking about our starting lineup.

Chelsea will be playing Celtic in Indiana on Saturday night, before heading to Atlanta to take on Club America.