A high Chelsea line was once again exposed as they conceded twice inside 27 minutes, and their frailties at the back are a major concern ahead of the start of the season.
Defeat against Real Madrid in North Carolina means the Blues ended their US tour with 12 goals conceded in five games.
It is still early days for Maresca, and teething problems are understandable, given he is trying to implement a new style of play.
But the way Chelsea defend will have Manchester City licking their lips ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge for their Premier League opener a week on Sunday.
Defensive problems have been a feature of pre-season for Chelsea and their high defensive line was repeatedly exposed by Real in the opening half-hour. Maresca had plenty of pace in his backline, with Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto, but the Blues again looked vulnerable to balls in behind.
Bu hikaye Evening Standard dergisinin August 07, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Evening Standard dergisinin August 07, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
ARTETA GETS NEW DEAL WITH GUNNERS
MANAGER COMMITS FUTURE TO CLUB UNTIL 2027
Opportunity knocks for Spurs amid rivals' crisis
Injury-hit Gunners facing a tough test as Postecoglou aims to reverse recent trend
Pressure is on misfiring Muniz and Antonio to spark campaigns into life
WHEN Andreas Pereira and Willian presented Rodrigo Muniz with the Premier League player of the month award for March, the striker’s tears of joy spoke of his own surprise at how drastically his fortunes had changed.
Madueke's England challenge boosts the Blues
CHELSEA’S Cobham training ground may be the most densely-populated patch of land across the entire home counties, but head down there this week and it ought not to take much to pick out Noni Madueke.
John Lewis cuts first-half losses after turnaround
THE boss of John Lewis today said he was confident of “positive” Christmas trading and “significantly higher profits” for the year as Britain’s leading partnership recovers from the worst crisis in its history.
Fever-Tree falls foul of the bad weather
FEVER-TREE seemed to be running out of fizz today as poor weather and a “subdued” consumer backdrop hit sales.
Why won't anybody take my novel of unrelenting male misery? I blame men
WHY don’t men read? Oh, I know dear male Standard readers do, those urbane, literary, poised and secretly perverted doyens of good taste. But those other men, they are not reading fiction.
The NHS needs more than long-term reform
THE NHS has become such a bleak topic of discussion in recent years that it is almost impossible to imagine it being fixed. Lord Darzi’s report paints a picture of an organisation grappling with several crises: in primary care, hospitals and the treatment of longterm illness. Its findings make for grim reading.
Ultrasound gives sickle cell teen new freedom
A TEENAGER with sickle cell disease has had her life transformed thanks to a pioneering ultrasound procedure performed by London doctors.
'Now let's get justice for the subpostmasters'
Mr Bates star Toby Jones makes a plea as he collects his gong at I'V awards