Chelsea's
US tour ended in another defeat, with Real Madrid winning 2-1 in Charlotte
and Blues boss Enzo Maresca bemoaning historical issues with the team's high
line for their defensive issues.
"It’s a problem that we are trying to solve in pre-season since day one,"
said the Italian, after seeing goals inside the first half hour from Dani
Ceballos and Brahim Diaz give the Champions League winners the advantage
before Noni Madueke pulled one back with a header before half-time.
"One of my first meetings with the squad was about the number of goals we
conceded last year with the defensive line being very high. It is something
that we are trying to work on.
"Today offensively, once again, I think we were there because the patterns
are there and we created chances. The problem has been defensively and when
I say defensively, I don’t just mean the defensive line. All of the players.
"It is a habit. We are not working on playing with the defensive line
higher. It is a habit from last year or from years ago. I don’t know. But we
are trying to drop the defensive line by four or five metres so we have the
advantage and don’t concede the balls in behind.
"Last season we conceded many goals with this problem and hopefully we can
solve this problem very soon."
Time is running out before the start of the new season. Chelsea play Inter
Milan at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and then open their Premier League
campaign at home to defending champions Manchester City, who beat them 4-2
earlier this week.
In fact, the defeat to Real Madrid means Chelsea have lost three of their
five pre-season games Stateside, only beating Club America and drawing with
League One Wrexham.
But it will be the performances more than the scorelines which will be the
concern for Chelsea supporters ahead of the new season.
Reece James had to make a last-ditch tackle to stop Vinicius Jnr and Diaz
shot wide after Levi Colwill was dispossessed inside his own six-yard box
before the opener - with defensive errors being a theme of this tour.
New goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made his first start but was beaten by
Ceballos' close-range finish and eight minutes later Diaz took the ball past
the new shot-stopper to convert from a tight angle after Vinicius Jnr's
through ball.
Enzo Fernandez's cross allowed Madueke to head in a reply but the second
half lacked clear cut chances for either side.
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