Chelsea have faced a series of defensive problems in recent pre-season friendlies. First came a 2-2 draw against Wrexham, followed by a humiliating 1-4 defeat to Celtic. The Blues have conceded a total of six goals in these two matches, which has undoubtedly put enormous pressure on head coach Enzo Maresca, with the Chelsea backline and manager Maresca facing criticism.
Against Celtic, Chelsea’s defense looked vulnerable from the start. After just 18 minutes, Celtic took the lead thanks to a goal from Matt O’Riley, a goal that came from a Chelsea defensive lapse. Although goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made several impressive saves in the first half, Chelsea’s defensive system appeared powerless against Celtic’s fast and concise passing. Celtic extended their lead before half-time, with Kyogo Furuhashi scoring easily, further revealing the weakness of Chelsea’s defense.
The situation did not improve in the second half, and Chelsea’s defensive problems became more pronounced. A poor mistake by Benoit Badiashile led directly to Celtic’s third goal, while the fourth came as a result of the Blues’ lack of organization and discipline when facing the opponent’s attack. These mistakes not only reflect the individual state of the players but also expose the shortcomings of the team’s overall defensive tactics.
Maresca’s decision to start the season with a three-back formation has not yielded the desired results. The backline composed of Wesley Fofana, Badiashile and Levi Colwill looked very passive against Celtic. The team did not do well in defensive transitions, often creating gaps when switching from attack to defense, allowing Celtic to easily launch counter-attacks and create threats.
Tactically, Maresca’s high pressing strategy did not effectively suppress the opponent’s attack, instead exposing his own defense. High pressing requires a high degree of coordination and physical reserves from the team, but against Celtic, Chelsea players were clearly not ready to meet such tactical demands. In addition, the team’s positioning and communication in defense also presented problems, making them unable to react promptly to the opponent’s fast passing.
Maresca’s challenge is not only to solve defensive problems but also to find a way for the team to maintain its attacking efficiency while also solidifying the backline. Given Chelsea’s huge investment in the transfer market and the intense competition within the team, Maresca needs to adjust his tactics quickly to ensure the team can show its competitiveness in the upcoming season. Otherwise, Chelsea may face a more difficult situation, and Maresca’s position will also become precarious.
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