As the new Premier League season approaches, Chelsea's pre-season performance has raised concerns. With just one win in five friendlies in the United States, new coach Enzo Maresca's strong team selections have resulted in 12 goals conceded. The final pre-season game against last season's Serie A winners Inter Milan presents a formidable challenge.
Maresca, who previously led Leicester to the Championship title, has faced disappointing performances on the pitch, with Chelsea's attempts to build play from the back contributing to several of the opposition's goals. Off the pitch, Maresca has had to manage the reinstatement of Enzo Fernandez following a controversial post on social media and the potential exit of fan favorite Conor Gallagher as part of the youth squad review by of the blues' sporting directors.
The upcoming Premier League opener against Manchester City adds to the pressure, with uncertainty over who will be in the squad. The battle for Chelsea's No.1 goalkeeper spot is between Robert Sanchez, who lost his form last season, and Filip Jorgensen, a £20.7m summer signing from Villarreal.
Despite conceding 12 goals in pre-season, Maresca has a variety of centre-backs to choose from. However, there are doubts over his confidence heading into the new season. There are also uncertainties in midfield, with Gallagher leaving and the need to improve performance from £106.8m signing Fernandez.
Chelsea's search for a reliable No.9 could be resolved with the arrival of Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, who scored eight goals on loan at Alavés last season. However, his imminent arrival could be bad news for Nicolas Jackson.
Despite these challenges, Christopher Nkunku and last season's top scorer Cole Palmer are expected to play key roles in Chelsea's attack. The performance of other players, such as Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling, will be closely watched.
With the 2024 summer transfer window closing on August 30, it remains to be seen how Chelsea's squad will line up for the new season.
the mail Chelsea pre-season woes: Concerns raised ahead of Premier League opener appeared first NewsGPT.ai.
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