Chelsea 'Confused' In Celtic Hammering, Admits Boss Maresca

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledges that his team has significant room for improvement following their 4-1 defeat to Celtic. Despite having 10 shots on target and hitting the woodwork twice, Chelsea struggled defensively. Maresca stated, "Off the ball we need to improve things," highlighting confusion in their play style and defensive positioning.Manchester City also faced challenges during their pre-season tour, suffering a 3-2 loss to Milan. Erling Haaland scored again, but Marco Nasti's late goal secured victory for Milan. This defeat followed a 4-3 loss to Celtic, with Pep Guardiola commenting, "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."Chelsea's Premier League campaign kicks off against Manchester City on August 18. However, both teams will first meet in a friendly match on August 3. The pre-season results have highlighted areas needing attention for both sides before the competitive season begins.Aston Villa also experienced a tough pre-season match, losing 4-1 to MLS side Columbus Crew. However, manager Unai Emery found a silver lining in Emiliano Buendia's return from injury. Emery expressed optimism about Buendia's comeback: "The best news is his comeback. We are happy with his return and we have to work now with him trying to get the best of him progressively."West Ham faced Wolves in another pre-season fixture but fell short with a 3-1 defeat. Julen Lopetegui's team managed to outplay his former club, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming season.Maresca admitted that Chelsea needs to refine their tactics both on and off the ball. He noted that understanding when to play short or long passes remains part of their learning process. "We maintained a high line but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop," he explained.Celtic concluded their US tour impressively by defeating Chelsea after previously beating Manchester City. Goals from Matt O'Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma, and Mikey Johnston put them ahead before Christopher Nkunku scored a penalty for Chelsea.Aston Villa's match against Columbus Crew saw Buendia playing his first minutes after missing last season due to injury. Emery praised his performance: "The first 30 minutes he played, really, is fantastic for us and for the team."As teams prepare for the new season, these pre-season matches provide valuable insights into areas needing improvement. Managers like Maresca and Guardiola will be keen to address these issues before their respective league campaigns begin.Chelsea's next challenge will be refining their strategy ahead of facing Manchester City twice in August. Both teams aim to iron out any tactical flaws exposed during their pre-season tours.The conclusion of these pre-season games offers managers an opportunity to fine-tune their squads and strategies before competitive matches commence. Each team's performance highlights specific areas requiring attention as they gear up for the new season.https://t.co/ByBbfEWaHU pic.twitter.com/u6vgXBLsRc

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