In a warm-up match that ended on July 25, Chelsea shook hands with Wrexham with a score of 2-2. After the match, Blues boss Maresca was interviewed by the media, giving an in-depth review of the match and revealing the team's future direction.
Maresca began by stating that although the result of the match is important for any team, in the current preparatory phase he is more interested in the performance of the players. He made special mention of the positive dynamics shown by the team in the first half and expressed his satisfaction with the players' efforts. However, he also frankly pointed out the team's problems at the defensive end in the second half, which led to the failure to win all three points in the end.
Speaking about the team's style of play, Maresca emphasized the importance of tactical adjustments and positional changes of players. He revealed that the team tried different tactical layouts in the first and second halves, including having Reece James and Gusto try out the role of wing backs in different positions. Maresca believes that such experimentation is necessary for the team as it needs to have multiple responses to different types of opponents. He also said that although the team is still in the bonding stage, it has started to see progress in establishing a clear playing style.
Maresca spoke highly of the return of Ravia and Wesley Fofana. He believes that the return of these two players is a huge boost for the team and that their experience and ability will breathe new life into the team. Maresca also singled out Wesley Fofana's ability to come back and play a full 45-minute game after a season-long injury absence as a testament to his personal efforts and the team's rehabilitation program.
On the subject of goalkeepers, Maresca emphasized the centrality of goalkeepers in the team system. He said that Robert Sanchez had a great game and has been in good form since the beginning of the preparation. At the same time, he avoided answering a direct question about whether Chelsea are interested in other goalkeepers, and just said that the team is satisfied with the current goalkeeper lineup.
When asked if Chelsea are considering bringing in a new goalkeeper in the transfer window, Maresca said it is too early to talk about it. He revealed that Chelsea currently have four goalkeepers in the squad, including the injured Petrovic. He also admitted that anything can happen before the transfer window closes, but the team will make decisions based on their needs and realities.
Finally, Maresca spoke about the risks the team encounters when organizing attacks from the back during the game. He argued that this style of play, while risky, is an important part of the team's offensive system. He said that the team needs to continue to adhere to this strategy and continue to improve and refine it in practice. At the same time, he also emphasized that the consideration of the starting lineup is still in progress, as some of the team's players have not yet returned to the team, and the main purpose of the warm-up matches is to let the players adapt to the rhythm and tactical requirements of the game.
