Chelsea 'confused' in Celtic hammering, says Maresca

By Sports Desk July 28, 2024

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca knows there are plenty of improvements for his team to make after the Blues were thrashed 4-1 by Celtic.

Fresh from beating Manchester City, Celtic rounded off their tour of the United States in sensational style on Saturday.

Matt O'Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston put the Bhoys 4-0 up before Christopher Nkunku grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot.

And Maresca, whose team had 10 shots on target and also hit the woodwork twice, conceded there is work to do.

"Off the ball we need to improve things," Maresca said.

"You can see sometimes we confuse when we need to play short and when we need to play a little bit longer but that is part of the process.

"We maintained a high line but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop.

"We are still confusing some things on the ball and off the ball. It is normal in this moment when we are trying to do something new."

Chelsea open their Premier League campaign against champions Manchester City on August 18, though the teams first face off in a friendly on August 3.

And City themselves are enduring a difficult pre-season tour so far, having suffered a 3-2 defeat to Milan on Saturday.

Erling Haaland scored again, but Marco Nasti's 78th-minute goal proved decisive for Milan.

City's defeat follows on from a 4-3 loss to Celtic, and Pep Guardiola said: "We were better than the first game.

"It was a step forward - no injuries, minutes in our legs, another test - and now we fly to another game in a few days."

Aston Villa are another Premier League team in action in the United States, and like City and Chelsea, suffered a defeat, going down 4-1 to MLS side Columbus Crew.

On the bright side, Unai Emery was able to welcome back Emiliano Buendia, who missed last season due to injury.

"The best news is his comeback," said Emery. "We are happy with his return and we have to work now with him trying to get the best of him progressively.

"The first 30 minutes he played, really, is fantastic for us and for the team."

West Ham, meanwhile, went down 3-1 to Wolves, with Julen Lopetegui coming unstuck against his former team.

Related items

  • Ederson yet to make decision on Man City future Ederson yet to make decision on Man City future

    Ederson says he has yet to make a decision about his future at Manchester City amid interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.

    The Brazilian goalkeeper has been heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad this transfer window, with Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr interested in his signature, though the latter reportedly pulled out of the race.

    Pep Guardiola is keen to keep his goalkeeper at the club, saying "I wish from the bottom of my heart Eddie will continue with us" when asked about the prospect of him leaving.

    Ederson has proved an integral figure for City since arriving from Benfica in 2017, making 332 appearances in all competitions and keeping 155 clean sheets.

    The 30-year-old is currently on City's pre-season tour of the United States having missed the Copa America with an eye injury, and started their 3-2 defeat to Milan in New York on Saturday.

    Speaking after that game, Ederson admitted he still did not know where his future lies, but welcomed the praise from Guardiola.

    "There isn't a decision yet," he said. "To hear Pep saying that was very gratifying.

    "It's now my eighth season with him, living many good moments, also some bad ones. He's a guy who is easy to work with, he's a football genius and everyone knows that. So, it's really good to hear that from him.

    "I'm happy here, having a good moment with my team-mates. I'm enjoying as well to get my fitness back on track. I'm very calm, whatever happens is in God's hands and he knows the right way to go. Whatever he gives me I'll be happy with."

    City's next friendly on their pre-season tour will see them face Guardiola's former side Barcelona in Orlando on Tuesday. 

  • Newcastle boss Howe does not want final say on transfers Newcastle boss Howe does not want final say on transfers

    Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he has held "really positive talks" with the club amid uncertainty over his future.

    While Howe has reiterated his commitment to Newcastle, the former Bournemouth boss did suggest there were some frustrations over the club's dealings and concerns about how he would fit into a new structure under sporting director Paul Mitchell.

    At the end of June, Newcastle had to cash in on youngsters Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh in order to comply with the Premier League's financial rules.

    Howe, meanwhile, has also been touted as a possible replacement for Gareth Southgate, who resigned as England manager in the wake of the Three Lions' loss to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

    But speaking after Newcastle's friendly win over Hull City, Howe dismissed the suggestion he wants the final decision on the club's transfer activity while confirming he has held positive discussions with the hierarchy.

    "It's not about having a final say" he said, as reported by The Athletic.

    "I'm not going to say anything different to what I said before: collaboration.

    "We’ve had really positive talks and we're trying to bring the right players for the football club.

    "It's never about one person's decision and neither should it be. It's about a group of people coming together and making the right decisions, all for the benefit of the football club.

    "Towards the end of collating information, that's when I'll have my input. There's a lot of work going on always through the year in terms of trying to bring players in.

    "I've just been working every hour to make sure we're ready for next season."

  • Man Utd must wait on Yoro, Hojlund injuries Man Utd must wait on Yoro, Hojlund injuries

    Erik ten Hag said Manchester United must wait another 24 hours to discover the extent of the injuries suffered by Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund.

    The pair went off injured in the first half of United's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles on Saturday.

    Hojlund opened the scoring in the 10th minute at SoFi Stadium, but Arsenal won thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.

    Yoro, a £52.2million (€62m) signing from Lille, started despite having featured in only half of United's training sessions, and Ten Hag explained his staff were being cautious with the 18-year-old.

    "We have to wait, in 24 hours we will hopefully know more, so we were very careful, especially with Leny," Ten Hag told MUTV.

    "He did only 50% of the sessions, so it's disappointing he had to come off. But let's be positive and see what comes out."

    Ten Hag was pleased with United's display overall. His team mustered only 0.56 expected goals but did have 10 shots to Arsenal's six, while the Dutchman feels Jesus' equaliser should have been called offside.

    "A very intense game, a good level," he said.

    "We were the better team in the first half, we scored a very good goal – a good move, a good finish. We conceded a goal, but it [should have been given] as offside."

    United won a pre-arranged penalty shootout 4-3 at the end, with Andre Onana making two saves and Jadon Sancho converting the winning spot-kick.

    Ten Hag added: "It's important – we know all the cup competitions we are in, so penalties can be important.

    "Two good saves from Andre. It's important to have a goalkeeper that is good at penalty shootouts and he proved that again. The penalties, except one, were all very good."

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, hailed the impact of matchwinner Martinelli.

    "One training session and he comes in and plays at that level," he said of the Brazilian.

    "That's the mentality of the team and individuals.

    "Gabriel looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer. You can see. The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness.

    "You can see it in his eyes. There's some spark there. Now he has a point to prove and that is good."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.