S Poddar
Chelsea completed their US tour with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lucas Vazquez and Brahim Diaz got the goals for the Spanish champions, and both exposed Chelsea’s vulnerabilities at the back.
The game certainly did get off to a bad start for Chelsea, as Vazquez scored after 19 minutes with a deflected shot which Filip Jorgensen could do nothing about. Shortly later, Diaz doubled Madrid’s advantage by finishing off a precise pass by Vinicius Jr. Noni Madueke pulled one back for Chelsea but wasn’t enough to avoid their third defeat in five matches under Maresca.
Defensive Concerns
Chelsea’s high defensive line was breached time and again by Madrid’s quick forwards. Simple passes over the top left Chelsea exposed, a weakness that opponents in upcoming games—not least Manchester City—will no doubt take note of.
Key Players
Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Christopher Nkunku have been Chelsea’s ever-presents in pre-season, starting each of their five matches. Lavia has really grown a lot, impressing in particular as a deep-lying playmaker.
Pitch Conditions
Moises Caicedo, the £115 million Chelsea midfielder, admitted he did not feel comfortable playing on parched pitches in the States. But he did not start – he came on and played the second half against Madrid. Nicolas Jackson has yet to feature but will do so in the Inter Milan game.
Vinicius Jr’s Influence
Vinicius Jr showed class, proving he was one of the world’s best wingers, making things very hard for Reece James in numerous spots. His story is a great lesson to Chelsea’s talented young players who do need patience and a chance to develop themselves.
Transfer Market Needs
The Blues still have a lot to do this summer regarding transfers. They need to sift through the flow both ways with a number of their stars, notably Ben Chilwell and Armando Broja, whose fate has not yet been decided. A bit hard with Chilwell’s few playing minutes and Maresca doubting his role, Broja didn’t even make the squad for the Real Madrid game and might leave too.
