Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, has pinpointed the club’s defense as their major concern after conceding 12 goals in five pre-season games in the United States.
Chelsea’s pre-season tour in the USA was less than impressive, ending with three defeats, one draw, and just one win.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, Maresca highlighted the team’s high defensive line as a key issue. He noted that they are actively working on dropping the defensive line by four or five meters to improve their defense, a problem that has lingered since last season.
Under previous coach Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea had a strong attacking presence, scoring 77 goals. However, their defensive shortcomings resulted in 63 goals conceded, leading to a sixth-place finish.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s performance over the last three weeks, Maresca emphasized his focus on enhancing the team’s defensive stability.
“It’s a habit. We’re not used to working with such a high defensive line. It’s something from last year, or maybe even earlier,” Maresca said. “We’re trying to drop the line a bit, about four or five meters, to gain some defensive advantage. Last year, we conceded many goals because of this issue. Hopefully, we can fix it soon.”
Chelsea’s final friendly match before the new season kicks off will be against Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
