Chelsea concluded their pre-season tour of the United States with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, marking their third loss in five matches.
The Blues have struggled defensively throughout their Stateside trip, conceding a total of 12 goals.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, expressed his concerns over the team’s defensive approach, which he attributed to the lingering influence of Mauricio Pochettino’s high-line philosophy.
“It’s a problem we are trying to solve from pre-season since day one,” Maresca told reporters. “One of my first meetings with the squad was about the amount of goals we conceded last year with the defensive line very high.”
Real Madrid frequently exploited Chelsea’s high defensive line, capitalizing on simple passes into open space.
Maresca highlighted that while the team’s offensive patterns are effective and chances are being created, the defensive vulnerabilities remain a significant issue.
“When I say ‘defensively,’ I don’t just mean the defensive line, but in general, all the players,” Maresca explained.
Looking ahead, Maresca emphasized the need to address these defensive shortcomings before the Premier League season begins.
Chelsea will face Inter Milan in a final pre-season match before their opening league fixture against Manchester City on August 18.
“We are trying to drop the defensive line a little bit, usually about four or five meters, just to have some advantage,” Maresca said.
