Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is committed to addressing his team’s defensive vulnerabilities following a 2-1 defeat against a youthful Real Madrid side in Charlotte, marking the final match of their United States tour.
First-half goals from Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz secured the win for Real Madrid, despite a header from Noni Madueke that offered a glimmer of hope for Chelsea.
The Blues’ defensive frailties were evident once more, having conceded 12 goals across five pre-season matches in America, with two matches seeing them fall 4-0 behind and securing only one victory.
Maresca, who has identified the “very high” defensive line as a critical issue, noted that this was a recurring habit from last season. In one of his initial meetings with the players, he addressed the need for defensive adjustments.
The match saw Ceballos capitalize on a deflected shot by Lucas Vazquez to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
Eight minutes later, Diaz skillfully maneuvered past new goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to score from a tight angle. Jorgensen, making his first start at the Bank of America Stadium, was left exposed by his defense.
Chelsea managed to pull one back in the 39th minute when Madueke headed in Enzo Fernandez’s cross at the far post.
Despite no substitutions at half-time, Maresca’s adjustments led to a more solid second-half performance. However, the game ended without further goals, with Christopher Nkunku missing the best opportunity in a one-on-one situation.
