With the new season approaching, Chelsea boss, Enzo Maresca looks for an ideal squad in the pre-season as they keep picking up losses. The Blues are back in London having ended their tour of America with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. They have only won one of their five games till now, but there have some positive signs – particularly the performances of Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea Playmaker Shines in Pre-Season
Enzo Maresca has been playing Nkunku in different positions, mainly as the no 10 but there have also been outings at striker. This brand of strategic flexibility was on show in Chelsea’s pre-season tour. The Frenchman managed to play just 14 games last season due to injuries.
He has been a standout performer in the pre-season, scoring three goals and often dropped down to get the ball. Nkunku’s versatility could prove extremely beneficial to the Blues, as the Frenchman adds depth and options within his attacking ranks. If he manages to get himself fully fit, he could prove to be a fantastic signing for Chelsea next season. With his world-class quality, there is no doubt that fans will love to see him play.
Defensive Frailties
Nkunku’s performance gives Chelsea fans hope for a strong attacking game. However, the defence failed to show up in their last game. The first goal conceded exemplified these issues, with an incisive through ball finding Diaz unmarked, allowing Madrid to penetrate Chelsea’s box effortlessly. Lucas Vazquez’s shot, deflected off Badiashile, fell to an unmarked Dani Ceballos, who scored easily.
In the entire match, Chelsea’s high defensive line was exploited time and time again. Real Madrid found it too easy to create chances, with balls in behind frequently finding unmarked runners, leaving Chelsea’s defense scrambling. Errors in possession from the backline made the situation worse, highlighting the need for immediate defensive improvements.
Maresca emphasized in his pre-match press conference that no player has a starting spot for certain, signaling his intent to make necessary changes. This sentiment must translate into decisive action as he establishes his preferred defensive lineup. The defensive frailties observed must be addressed promptly to avoid a rocky start to the season.
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Malo Gusto: A Tactical Dilemma for Chelsea
Another talking point has been the deployment of Malo Gusto. With club captain Reece James returning from a long-term hamstring injury, Gusto had to play as a left-back. Initially signed as a backup for James, Gusto’s performances on the left have been commendable. Drifting inwards from the wing, he has managed to help out defensively and offensively with more efficiency at midfield where he has partnered well alongside Raheem Sterling.
These significant changes may lead to Cucurella or Chilwell denying Gusto of a spot in the first eleven. Nevertheless, Gusto can be a trump card for Maresca as he can play in both wingback positions and adds to the squad depth.
Looking Ahead
Chelsea made the switch to a back three in the middle of last season, and it proved to be an effective move as they saw off all challengers. Nkunku can be a plus in that regard due to his surging spell, while he is also really versatile and can help make the forward line less obvious. The defensive weaknesses in general, and especially against quality opposition such as Real Madrid, still point to the clear need for tactical tweaks.
With just one more pre-season match to go against Inter Milan, Maresca needs to get a grip on this squad pretty quickly. Chelsea must not only work on their defence but also try to extract everything possible from Nkunku if they wish to have a strong campaign next season. No one is looking back at the pre-season as fruitful in terms of wins, but lessons learned will hopefully prove invaluable for Chelsea to have a strong start.
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